Welcome to the fold... though I bring my own nuances.
Backstory: I'm a late-diagnosed Aspie, 56 in a couple of weeks, only diagnosed in my mid 40's. Had a small number of long-term relationships, and had trouble understanding why the earlier ones ended, until I was diagnosed. Nerdy as a kid, with few friends. Avid D&D player until my early 20's (same set of low maintenance friends, with a well understood social contract). Computer geek; SciFi nerd; etc.
I am the architypical introvert - uncomfortable in large social gatherings. I went for nearly 10 years without anyone other than my partner that I could call a friend, but was "mostly happy with my own company". Most "friends" were partners of my partner's frienship circle.
About 5 years ago, I started up a makerspace, and kind of "instantly" gained a friendship circle in a town where I basically knew nobody, and that was "fine" but occasionally tiring, until this summer when I basically burnt out and quit. I still have some of the friends, but I'm seeing far less of them now we have no common interest in the makerspace. I'm still trying to work out what my "next big thing" will be. At least I now know how to go about starting whatever it will be up...
But I think the main issue is that I find the social aspect really tiring (I think it's masking fatigue). I just can't handle large amounts of the social stuff. Fortunately, my current partner of about 15 years is very supportive and understanding, and decidedly not introverted.
Backstory: I'm a late-diagnosed Aspie, 56 in a couple of weeks, only diagnosed in my mid 40's. Had a small number of long-term relationships, and had trouble understanding why the earlier ones ended, until I was diagnosed. Nerdy as a kid, with few friends. Avid D&D player until my early 20's (same set of low maintenance friends, with a well understood social contract). Computer geek; SciFi nerd; etc.
I am the architypical introvert - uncomfortable in large social gatherings. I went for nearly 10 years without anyone other than my partner that I could call a friend, but was "mostly happy with my own company". Most "friends" were partners of my partner's frienship circle.
About 5 years ago, I started up a makerspace, and kind of "instantly" gained a friendship circle in a town where I basically knew nobody, and that was "fine" but occasionally tiring, until this summer when I basically burnt out and quit. I still have some of the friends, but I'm seeing far less of them now we have no common interest in the makerspace. I'm still trying to work out what my "next big thing" will be. At least I now know how to go about starting whatever it will be up...
But I think the main issue is that I find the social aspect really tiring (I think it's masking fatigue). I just can't handle large amounts of the social stuff. Fortunately, my current partner of about 15 years is very supportive and understanding, and decidedly not introverted.