Part of me was still in denial...

[NicoleAscot]

The doctor had me go over a bunch of stuff that "may or may not" fit Aspergers characteristics.
One of them, was something about unusual interests, like trains and such.
And I've been telling myself, I don't have any "unusual/different" interests at all. Right?
And then last night it occurred to me!!
I have been to hundreds of thrift stores and antique stores from Huntsville, Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana, looking for something very specific, for something that I can't quite explain my reasoning for.
Here is a small sample of what I've been finding...

Aren't they cute?

 

[Aspie_rin]

Aww so tiny! I think it does qualify, especially if you're really into them. Though having a collection can be a non-aspie thing too.

 

[xudo]

One of them, was something about unusual interests, like trains and such.

They always use trains as the example. I think it makes a lot of people think that they must not have an 'unusual' interest because that's the only example most professionals give. Mine is 9/11 and plane accidents, so yeah. I don't really collect anything anymore (apart from craft supplies...) but when I was younger I did collect keyrings and Goosebump books, and then Beanie Babies.

 

[Judge]

Ah yes, denial. My denial was in examining my own physical characteristics. Never felt particularly clumsy, so no, Aspergers couldn't be me! Then I found other symptoms...such as "stilted walking". WTH was that? I had to look it up. Horrified to discover that was a sort of walk I had as a kid, for which I was taunted about. Where your shoulders move side to side...kind of like a subdued "Gomer Pyle".

That was the point in my quest when I finally yielded to the idea that I may well be on the spectrum of autism. When I gave up resisting it, and began to accept who and what I actually am.

 

[kris]

Haha yeah... that counts. One of the reason girls miss being diagnosed more than boys is that our interests tend to be a little more mainstream. We don't necessarily fixate on the classic things like trains and clocks. It's more the intensity of our interests. Like I was interested in sewing and people thought I just liked to sew... nope... more like obsessed with sewing and sewing machines. But it's now my full time job and I love it

I've had other intense interests come and go over the years too.. I tend to drop them as quickly as I pick them up when I'm no longer interested.

 

[isthisreallife]

They always use trains as the example. I think it makes a lot of people think that they must not have an 'unusual' interest because that's the only example most professionals give. Mine is 9/11 and plane accidents, so yeah. I don't really collect anything anymore (apart from craft supplies...) but when I was younger I did collect keyrings and Goosebump books, and then Beanie Babies.

Mine is 9/11 as well, and natural disasters, Tornadoes especially.

 

[Soona45]

Omg! NicoleAscot! Samesies!
Antique trinkets, I've collected sherry glasses,shot glasses, teapots, mini vases, inscence burners, cat and fairy ornaments, thimbles, pill box's, lunch box's and anything with a dragon on.
Yes they are so cute!
I inherited lots of shot glasses from my great uncle who was German. My prized possessions.
Unfortunately I've had to get rid of mine, hoarding became a bit of a problem when I lived at my dad's.
I also used to collect goosebumps, beanie babies(i had them all, I used to threaten my mother that I would trash the house if I didn't get the latest one oops!).
I also collect old books, if they don't smell old enough I will put them back on the shelf. If I go anywhere I'm pretty good at finding the second hand book shop.
Who knew chariety shop trawling and trinket finding could be a special interest!
I've excessively researched pagan mythology (even though I'm not religious) and collect quiet alot of witchcraft stuff.
I'm also interested in politics/sociology.
So I can't relate to people, but I can study them and tell you which way they vote and why!

 

[xudo]

Mine is 9/11 as well, and natural disasters, Tornadoes especially.

And here I was thinking I was alone.

 

[Streetwise]

shoes,bags,pens,books
as IM not a billionaire cant really go mad :-(
still dream of a library in a stately home or prof higgins library in my fair lady
or a huge closet for the bags and shoes

 

[Streetwise]

try

And here I was thinking I was alone.

try not to think about twisters they give me the creeps but IVE seen as many 9/11 docs as i can and the Oklahoma bombing tvm and the 80s l.a earthquake tvm

 

[Jet Weiss]

I collect stuffed animal dogs, headphones, sneakers, and shirts with the names of places on them.
Mum's boyfriend is obsessed with trains, I've heard that is a classic Aspie thing.

 

[Tyrantus1212]

I used to collect bottle caps and pieces of wood as a child and just hoard them away; I'm not into those anymore. I used to be very obsessed with streetlights, sprinklers and construction sites. I would beg my parents to take me to a park just so I could watch the sprinklers in action; I've stopped by each and every sprinkler and just waited for them to turn on, pour out that stream and do that famous "ratatatatata", a.k.a. music to the ears. I used to also constantly stop by each and every streetlight and just...examine it. Also waited for them to turn on, and even checked each one if it buzzed. Then I came home and just drew those same lights I've been observing.

I used to also beg my parents to take some detours around the construction sites in my area and watching those big cranes do their thing was mesmerizing. I wasn't just interested in the big ones - even simple residential ones made me want to watch for hours. There was even one residential site across the street from my childhood home that I constantly mimicked with my toys. I used to also create mock streetlights using straws and paper cutouts within my childhood home. Can't say the same about mock sprinklers, I knew getting the house wet was a no-no. I'm still very much into construction sites, I'm much less into streetlights and I'm no longer into sprinklers - so there's plenty of variability amongst my interests as well.

 

[tee]

There is something rather pleasant about seeing all of that lined up. What's the story behind the tobasco bottle?

 

[Streetwise]

thrilled and intrigued by part of psalm 139:4 "you are fearfully (with great respect)and wonderfully (unigue)made" IVE just realised it connects to creativity -collecting

Omg! NicoleAscot! Samesies!
Antique trinkets, I've collected sherry glasses,shot glasses, teapots, mini vases, inscence burners, cat and fairy ornaments, thimbles, pill box's, lunch box's and anything with a dragon on.
Yes they are so cute!
I inherited lots of shot glasses from my great uncle who was German. My prized possessions.
Unfortunately I've had to get rid of mine, hoarding became a bit of a problem when I lived at my dad's.
I also used to collect goosebumps, beanie babies(i had them all, I used to threaten my mother that I would trash the house if I didn't get the latest one oops!).
I also collect old books, if they don't smell old enough I will put them back on the shelf. If I go anywhere I'm pretty good at finding the second hand book shop.
Who knew chariety shop trawling and trinket finding could be a special interest!
I've excessively researched pagan mythology (even though I'm not religious) and collect quiet alot of witchcraft stuff.
I'm also interested in politics/sociology.
So I can't relate to people, but I can study them and tell you which way they vote and why!

The doctor had me go over a bunch of stuff that "may or may not" fit Aspergers characteristics.
One of them, was something about unusual interests, like trains and such.
And I've been telling myself, I don't have any "unusual/different" interests at all. Right?
And then last night it occurred to me!!
I have been to hundreds of thrift stores and antique stores from Huntsville, Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana, looking for something very specific, for something that I can't quite explain my reasoning for.
Here is a small sample of what I've been finding...

Aren't they cute?
View attachment 35079 View attachment 35080 View attachment 35081 View attachment 35082 View attachment 35083

 

[NicoleAscot]

There is something rather pleasant about seeing all of that lined up. What's the story behind the tobasco bottle?

Isn't there? I love it!! Took months to find the right order for everything. Haha
As for that bottle specifically, it was found by accident at work. It was in a box to be thrown out and I HAD to have it. Hehe