Hi everybody:
It’s me, your friend from Canada. 
I just wanted to say that my faith in humanity has once again received a wonderful shot in the arm: I have started dating someone new and I told him about my autism. He could not have been more understanding and supportive, even though he doesn’t know much about it.
As part of the discussion, I’ve talked to him really openly about how much time I need alone at home, and that I’m simply not extroverted and that there are many occasions (as in 95% of the time, I’ll be real) when I prefer a quiet evening in after a long day of masking and camouflaging at work, rather than going out.
Disclosing this to someone early on was helpful because then if that doesn’t appeal to him, he can gently let me know that and we go our separate ways, without hearts broken. So far so good, though – he’s been curious and supportive.
So, I just wanted to share that we can meet the right people and be accepted for who we are. I think the key is having the courage to disclose. I didn’t find it easy but once I did it, was such a relief. ...Yes, after work I will walk the dog, and then I will return home and get directly into pyjamas and nestle into my cozy, small home for the remainder of the evening. That’s my safe and happy place. 
(How do people manage to work all day and then do ANYTHING afterward? Wow. Props.)
Time for more coffee - it’s still morning over here…
Elizabeth
