We have apartments in NZ, is the culture etc here not catched up? There seems to be this attitude that apartment is like living inside a prison and even the poor or young shouldn't live there.
All the time I visit family overseas or my own trips it's apartment living, I've spent all my uni years living in my own room with shared facilities. Now eve at home at the folks place, I opted for the smallest room, about 11m squared. Even with children, many families just live in apartments overseas. Some are more expensive with libraries, game world, piano, swimming pool with BBQ machines, 24/7 security but many also don't have those luxuries. It's part and parcel overseas.
I'm still continually thinking and wishing I didn't get various stuff like the stereo. I just don't really need much, the small in wall wardrobe which I have just got rid of old and semi worn clothing. Ok, there is a bed, a bedside cabinet, a table with my PC, my A3 printer used which I got for free due to the photo paper I received. This printer is totally optional anyway cos printing at home is a hobby but for a RRP $1,500 printer you will never get your down-payment back.
The parents etc .. don't really do parties or backyard BBQs, ok there is back garden, we don't have jet ski's or boats or campervans. They have cars but I chose not to buy one and just use public transportation.
:)