Pocket park vs. big back yard

[irvinehomeowner]

So BK's eternal jealousy of Irvine hits the OCReader again with his latest post:

http://www.ocreader.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=159&p=12845

How much do we value our yard? Late Friday night I had my office party in my yard. Twinkle lights above and guests gathered around the fireplace were a nice effect.

Could this be replaced by a pocket park?

I would like you to to contribute to this list 101 reasons to have a large private yard that a pocket park can't substitute for.

1. My pets don't pick up fleas and infest the house.
2. Liquor is allowed in private property.
3. Food and drinks easy access from the kitchen.
4. No extra liability insurance.
5. Don't have to reserve it.
6. Avoid germs left by stangers.
7. You can leave your children in the yard like playing hide and seek and don't have to watch them like a hawk when they venture off boundary to hide. You can stay inside the house while they play outside.
8. You can plan any gathering anytime in the private yard and not at the mercy of others screwing up your party timing as well during the party.
9. Never have to worry about razor blades and syringes.
10. Never have to worry about chasing the balls out on to the street or motorcourt.

I'm sure if we could afford it... we would all love a big back yard... I even had one in Irvine once. But for every Yin, there is a Yang:

1. Pets can still get fleas in your own backyard... they can jump there from your neighbor.
2. If you like having a bunch of drunks in your house.
3. No food/drink/kitchen mess to clean up.
4. Don't have to hire a gardener or spend my own time maintaining the pocket park.
5. With so many pocket parks in Irvine, reserving one isn't too hard.
6. Is someone a germaphobe? I'd be more worried about a gatecrasher mugging my guests.
7. You can walk to the pocket park without worrying about getting mugged in your high-crime city.
8. See number 5 and 6.
9. Never have to worry about drive-bys or home invasions.
10. Never have to be worried if they do chase the ball into the street or motorcourt.

Hyperbole, of course, which is why this is in the Water Cooler section and not an "Architectural Discussion".