Is the Backyard Obsolete?

[WestWillow]

Step off of my back deck, walk past the swimming pool and hot tub...
Go a little farther and you are in the forest. Enjoy walking the trails, playing along the creek, gazing at the mountains in the distance.
Ya all come back for a visit anytime. We'll have a back yard BBQ! Maybe a party?
The front yard? Eh, not as much fun and the road runs past it.

[Bluesmama]

During the summer months my back yard is my favorite place to be. It's pretty back there with all the flowers, our canvas swing chair is back there, and I can "hide" from people. The BBQ'r is on the deck (which we used last night).

Now one neighbor in the culdesac, despite a spacious back yard, spends his time on his front yard with his small children. There are two inflatable pools, a picnic table, and other stuff. I think he just likes to watch what's going on.

Saturday it was warm and I crashed into a 3-hr nap on the beach recliner in the shade. Felt gooood when I finally woke up.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by 115db

Most use those stupid block walls for privacy or so you cant hear. I think I know more who hate them than those who like them....and Im another one of them. Almost makes you feel like prison-camp.

There's been a thread or two on the Las Vegas forum in regards to this issue
and a slight majority are defensive of the omnipresent block walls in this city,
valuing their privacy.

I work in a rehab facility where an elderly lady fell in her walled backyard, broke her hip, no one saw here, of course, she was too weak to call for help (and who would have heard her anyway) and she, luckily, was able to crawl on her back to the front yard where someone finally spotted her.

I would like the block walls if they were a little shorter, where you could at least see the heads of your neighbors when they're standing.

Up the street from me there's a two-block stretch with high walls on both sides of the street. If you were a victim of crime in that area, no witnesses whatsoever. I always get nervous walking down those walled streets, particularly at night.

And, yes, high clipped bushes wouldn't make much difference, but there's a a more detrimental psychological feeling I get with all that concrete.