AARP realizes that all seniors don't think or act alike. They are targeting the many segments of the senior market with three different publications:

My Generation, for boomers 50 to 56
• Two editions of Modern Maturity, 57 to 65 and 66+
• Homes of the Future

Homes of the future are likely to be clustered together or attached, and smaller and more open, according to a study conducted by the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) based in Washington, DC. Living spaces will also be tailored for an aging population, will be more multifunctional, and room for an office will be a standard feature.

These are just some of the predictions reported in"20/20: IFDA's Vision for the Future," which surveyed some 2,000 IFDA members from every segment of the design and home furnishings industry.

Other focuses from the report are:

• 87 percent predict future homes will have separate media rooms.

• 73 percent see a move to more open-plan home designs.

• 40 percent predict that movable walls will replace permanent home interior walls.

• 89 percent see the ergonomics needs of an aging population becoming very important.

• 71 percent say that great rooms will eclipse living rooms.

• 51 percent say that dining rooms will disappear, to be replaced by eat-in kitchens.

• 72 percent predict larger kitchens.

• only 29 percent see casual dining and tableware signaling the demise of formal tableware.

Words to remember:

"Older people need not undergo a prescribed disengagement from life. Love, friendship, a feeling of connectedness with others, and a sense of humor [and much laughter] remain critical to our sense of well-being. As time goes by, we should not forget the redemptive power of smiling, laughing, and hugging." Alvin F. Pouissaint, M.D.

Positive news about the attacks of 9.11

Here is a look at the numbers that came out of New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

• The twin towers of the World Trade Center were places of employment for 50,000 people. With the current missing list of 3,500 people, that means 93% of them survived!

• 23,000 people were the target of a third plane aimed at the Pentagon. The latest count shows 123 lost their lives. That is an amazing 99.5% survival rate. In addition, the plane seems to have come in too low, too early to affect a large portion of the building.

• The section that was hit was the first of five sections to undergo renovations to help protect the Pentagon from terrorist attacks. It had recently completed straightening and blast proofing, saving untold lives.

• American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757, flown into the Pentagon could have carried up to 289 people, yet only 64 were aboard. 78% of the seats were empty.

• American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767, could have had up to 351 people aboard, but only carried 92. 74% of the seats were empty.

• United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767, that could have sat 351 people only had 65 people on board. It was 81% empty.

• United Airlines Flight 93, another Boeing 757, was one of the most uplifting stories yet. The smallest flight to be hijacked with only 45 people aboard out of a possible 289 had 84% of its capacity unused. Yet these people stood up to the attackers and thwarted a fourth attempted destruction of a national landmark, saving untold numbers of lives in the process.

• Out of potentially 74,280 people directly targeted, 95% survived or avoided the attacks. That's a higher survival rate than heart attacks, breast cancer, kidney transplants and liver transplants--all common, survivable illnesses.

The Hijacked planes were mostly empty, the Pentagon was hit at its strongest point, the overwhelming majority of people in the World Trade Center buildings escaped, and a handful of passengers gave the ultimate sacrifice to save even more lives.

While we are in no way attempting to minimize the incredible loss of life, and the suffering caused to the thousands of injured, as well as the pain and sorrow to the families of those affected, there are identifiable positives to be thankful for.

Religions of different faiths are holding services together. People are praying and speaking of world peace in proportions never seen before. We are asking to learn and understand about our neighbors in the world.

Many people were delayed from reaching their flights and work the day of the attack. Listen to your intuition. God works in quiet and mysterious ways.

We have all changed and grown.

Published: December 5, 2001

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Kathy Lamancusa is a trend strategis, professional speaker and author who tracks the forces that impact our lives. Over 1.6 million copies of Kathy's books are in print, and she has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including Oprah! She is a public speaker who can offer organizations entertaining and enlightening peeks into what is coming and what is shaping change so that they can better reach their own customer bases.