"One of the remarkable things about America is that when you drive past large, affluent homes such as that in kat's video, there is never anybody there. There are few lights and no movement behind the heavy curtains. The yards are empty, except perhaps for someone mowing grass."

Wow. What a strange stereotype!!!

I'm not quite sure about your impression. Don't forget most of those "large, affluent" homes also have backyards with patios and perhaps a swimming pool, and we tend to spend time there.   While I don't have a pool, I do have a deck and in the summer months it becomes an additional room of the house. Most of my neighbors do the same - and we are not in "large, affluent homes".