Water shortage? What water shortage?

Okay, so I live in an affluent neighborhood; don't mistake me for one of the affluent, but from where I live in my quaint little rent-controlled apartment, you can throw a rock in any direction and it would hit a home priced at three-quarters of a million or up. Head south down my street and cross Ventura and you are in the area that we locals know as "South of the Boulevard" which translates roughly as "where people who are sitting on piles of money live." Because this area is hilly (and provides access to fire roads and hiking trails), Owen and I walk the neighborhood daily. When I walk with my friend and neighbor Syd, we like to play the "original owner" game. This game consists of us identifying homes that are still occupied by the original owners. Judgement is usually based on things like paint color and landscaping (an inordinately large number of birds of paradise, juniper hedges, pyracanthas, or a proliferation of ivy are good inidcators).

Because I like a good makeover story, Iwhen these dated homes change hands I enjoy watching the progress as they are renovated, and admiring (or questioning) the aesthetic decisions made. On one of the hillier roads, a home recently underwent such a transformation. I was really impressed. They updated the home nicely, without making it ostentatious, and filled the sloping front "yard" (is it still a yard if it's almost vertical?) with drought-resistant plants - a wise choice considering that Southern California is still feeling the effects of an ongoing drought to the point that our mayor is considering mandating water-rationing.

Now, back to the house - so it's been renovated and landscaped and goes up for sale; it's clearly a "flip" (and a well-done flip at that, if you ask me). I see a "sold" sign go up and come down no less than two times before the home finally sells. It seems the new owners are in, because I've seen a flurry of work lately. The other day, Owen and I were walking by and saw gardeners hard at work on the slope. The next day, we passed by again and what do you know - all those drought-resistant plants? Gone. Replaced with sod. Consider that for a moment, will you? The new owners replaced perfectly good plants (with minimal water needs) with a brand-new water-hogging lawn.

Oy.

Now, I could understand if they had children and wanted a place for them to play, but, as I previously stated, this lawn is almost vertical. One false move and a child would find themselves rolling down said lawn, bouncing off the retaining wall and landing in the street. So it seems that this was done merely for aesthetics. You just have to trust me when I say that the previous non-thirsty landscape was very tastefully done, was in keeping with the overall look of the house and was, dare I say, more visually appealing than the bright green atrocity that's taken its place.

Way to go Einstein(s).