[ywgdana]

I'm not sure I'd attribute it to a fast-paced lifestyle. My guess is that most people plunk down and just watch TV (or surf the web these days) after supper. After dinner walks would be a step towards a faster-pasted lifestyle :P

It seems more like it's tied to the importance placed on property ownership and lack of public common spaces. (Well, there's probably a feedback loop going on) We convince ourselves that owning a home in the suburb is so important and so wonderful that naturally we stay at home and enjoy our house.