You know what creeped me out? When I was down south (the Carolinas, NOLA, etc.) and all of the ‘graves’ are ABOVE ground. *SHIVER*
I totally understand it based upon sea levels, but again, I agree with you on the waste of real estate.
What’s your take on golf courses?
While I could be aggrieved with golf courses, I can put them in perspective with a greater metropolitan area. While they serve only one direct function, they also provide aesthetic value as well as reduce heat islands and dust, some noise reduction, and some oasis for wild animals.
Living in the southwest does make you more aware of water use, but that is relative as well. Agriculture and industry make good use of most public water, so only blatant misuse, like multiple shallow artificial lakes in residential areas, is really abusive.
Golf courses are also easy to covert to other uses, as they are just a “surface” use.