because it can

Because the ground state of what we in normal language would call 'nothing' does not contain 0 energy, it still contains the electromagnetic field (and other fields as well). It turns out, the state of absolutely nothing, is impossible.

actually nothing does exist but it takes a lot of energy to sustain it

isnt this idea built on the assumption that states before the big bang or whatever there was follow physics as we know it?

So that you can have a place to put your stuff.

Duh.

well there clearly is, and as far as using the term literally, thats a universal truth.

I don't need a universe when I have a perfectly good bed to shove shit under.

Let say the universe occupies a certain amount of space. What's next to it?

heavens on the left and hell is on the right.