Space-Filling Human Nature

A beekeeper's observation about how bees fill available space with honey reveals a fundamental truth about human behavior with possessions and space.

The Bee Principle

• Bees will fill whatever space they are given with honey
• If given limited space, they simply produce less
• If given more space, they will always fill it completely

Human Application

• People behave identically with their living spaces
• Given more space, humans will fill it with possessions
• Given less space, they naturally limit their acquisitions
• Example: Moving to a bigger house results in filling it "to the brim with crap"

Beekeeping Context

• Amateur hobby since 2013
• Low barrier to entry
  • $300-500 initial investment
  • Minimal ongoing costs
  • Low maintenance requirements
• Scale
  • Manages around 10,000 bees
  • Produces 5-8 gallons of honey annually
• Location flexibility
  • Can be kept in residential areas
  • Works on rooftops
  • Bees mostly keep to themselves

Getting Started in Beekeeping

• Purchase beekeeping kit from Amazon ($250)
• Find local bee supplier through Craigslist
• Initial colony costs about $100 for 10,000 bees
• Local farmers often help with setup
• Minimal ongoing maintenance required

This principle mirrors other expansion laws like Parkinson's Law (work expands to fill time available), suggesting a universal tendency for resources to expand to fill available capacity.