Driving around the mountains in Marin county CA people live in these incredibly picturesque and beautiful spaces on forested mountain tops. I had never really s

Driving around the mountains in Marin county CA people live in these incredibly picturesque and beautiful spaces on forested mountain tops. I had never really seen anything like it other than possibly villas on the Italian coast, or parts of Japan but I believe the whole country is a lot wetter. My understanding is this kind of architecture and landscaping really only took off around the 1970s, but I can't blame those who are able to afford it for wanting to live essentially IN nature. On the other hand city blocks, suburbs and good size lawns are boring in comparison but at least they are harder to burn down in dry weather.