ASD and 57: is there any hope for a relationship?

Thank you for these great words 

In answer to your title question - I hope so, I'm 57 too.  Mind you, I love my husband with all my heart but he's an alcoholic, to whit I'm divorcing him.  But I'll never close the door... there's always hope he'll hit bottom and sober up.

To be more cheery though, there are people here who are happily married.  Also, to be honest I think my mother is undiagnosed...errr...probably...but anyway she married my Dad at 19 and they are now 82 and couldn't live without eachother.  There's got to be hope.

Anyway, science says there's hope.  Some of us are clearly getting together with someone and reproducing otherwise our neurodivergent genes would have died out long ago, so go for it.  The right person has to be out there.

Brilliant to read, thank you so much 

Great words of wisdom, thank you 

Very encouraging, thank  you 

I sometimes want something because I don’t have an unrealistic version of it, not because I need it.  
When I get it I see the realistic version which falls short of the ‘perfect advert version’ of my fantasy. 

You are so right: I love my own space and I’m glad you triggered a reminder in me that that is true.  

Recently diagnosed. Not fully convinced I am on the spectrum. 45 m. But, for my whole life I wrote off relationships, I am currently in one, so it's certainly possible.

There are difficulties though, but there are with NT relationships. In no position to give advice, but I think you shouldn't overly listen to proclamations of futility re this topic. A relationship is a complex system and a large amount of difficulties can be understood and preemptively dealt with, and when difficulties do arise, you can have measures in place, if its approached intelligently, as it likely will be.. NT relationships contrastingly by and large don't do this, they are unplanned, emotion driven entities, based on norms and arbitrary expectations.

One advantage is that the relationship doesn't have to subscribe to social norms. You can potentially limit the relationship to what works. This can be based off limited proximity, limited time, limited environment, limited things you do together, really, you can creatively build a mutually acceptable relationship that meets your needs, not the needs prescribed by society. 

Not saying its easy, just a little pushback to the perception its futile, as there's another side to that coin. 

I've been happily married for nearly 30 years now, so I'd say yes it's possible. Just a case of finding the right person. 

I don think u should rule it out but dont obsess over it either. just sit back n have fun if its meant to b then it will b

ive not been in a relationship but they seem hard work n not sure im up for all the hassle lol. my mums divorced n my dad has a new gf ever time i see him

Lot of hassle and stress.

I am a diagnosed autistic person 57 and am married only 5 years. High functioning apparently .

I think relationships are entirely possible, if the right person comes along. But I would also question it, Do you really want a relationship? Or do you feel you should have one? Do you want a long term relationship? 
I myself am not looking. It’s all too much effort, and if I’m honest, I don’t need a relationship. If someone comes along sure, but I’m not going to invest heavily in it. I don’t think I would find anyone to cope with me anyway! I’m very set in my ways now. It would have to be someone pretty special to change my thinking.