The Kingfisher lives inside a "culture of one" [see photo]. He is a minimalist in the purest sense of that term. He fulfils his basic needs as best he can with whatever is available to him. He has dedicated habits that support him to fulfil his core needs. He is programmed to be an effective hunter and provider for himself and his offspring. Indeed these birds are programmed to meet the immediate needs of themselves and their offspring - that's it.
The Kingfisher is an individual who survives and thrives on the use value of his own efforts. There is no community to support him. There is no attempt to be part of an extended existence that involves a community of others. He is a loner and perhaps because of this his offspring often die as fledglings after about a twenty-four day incubation in the nest. It might be said that the Kingfisher lives a life based on all care and no responsibility.
I know, I know that it is ridiculous for me to assign the notion of culture to a bird that lives free in nature. But... I do so here because I seek to illustrate the point that most humans on this planet are not free. They are not free because they bind themselves to a culture that limits them, entraps them, cages them, etc. Humans seem to crave connectedness, gossip, speculation, etc that defines a culture. Thus they can not be free unless, or until, they become minimalists.
The Kingfisher lives a tough life, and yet, if you spy one in any of his multiple habitats then you will see a jewel of nature. You will spy a creature that makes sense in everything he does to survive and to thrive. You will see a culture of one.
Richard.
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