i have the opportunity to set up a new shop in my basement. it measures
approximately 20x40, less the stairwell and an area which is roughed in
for a full bath. i also have an attached two-car garage with access
from the basement.

over the next few months/years, i want to develop areas for turning and
general woodworking using tools i now own and some new purchases.

now for the catch. the house was built on a peninsula which is subject
to flooding. the basement is really the area enclosed by the foundation
which is eight feet high to raise the house up above the hundred year
flood plain. in september 2003, hurricane isabel caused tidal flooding
which came 4-5 feet up the foundation. since the house was designed to
withstand this type of flood, there was minimal damage and the basement
was virtually empty at the time. this type of flood could never happen
again, or could happen again tomorrow. a lesser flood is almost
guaranteed within the next few years.

i can't stand to leave this 800 square-foot concrete block room with a
cement floor and 9 foot ceilings just used for junk. on the other hand,
i don't want to someday see the same area filled with junk which used
to be thousands of dollars worth of machinery, tool and supplies.

i am open for suggestions, ideas, inspirations and advice of any type.
a friend of mine has already suggested a raised floor supported on
floats which would then rise with the water level. i actually pondered
this idea until i had the vision of the drill press coming up through
the living room carpet. the point being that no idea is out of bounds.

thanks for taking time to read this, and thanks in advance for any
input.

Martin Caskey
Millers Island, Maryland