<p>I'm answering bk's question although I know I'm not the subject of his question, but high rise living has a bit of the novelty factor for me, plus I never lived in a house with a view, and high rise living has the best views possible. I wouldn't feel superior, I'd just feel that I was doing something different. I lived in the suburbs all my life (for the kids' education) and I always felt I'd be in a more urban environment as I neared retirement. Irvine is great because it represents the "big city" with easy access to authentic restaurants and close to a "safe" urban jungle. I also have ideas of moving to San Francisco or Toronto or a similar big city for a year or so just to experience urban living, and there, highrise or high density residences are the only option. However, in Southern Cal, high rises are a novelty option, but they are probably a lot of fun and at the renting vs. buying costs, a good value, like Saving is finding out.</p>