What's so important or special about social interactions anyway?

Interestingly, my mental health is the best it's ever been. I haven't had a meltdown in months and I feel pretty happy and stable on a day to day basis. I experience a lot of joy, mostly when walking alone in nature, although I also have an active social life I enjoy. I still think an empty world would be nice..

I used to have similar fantasies, but I realise now I was in a bad place and didn't think anything could get better. The choices seemed to be either me dying (which I also fantasised about) or everyone else dying or vanishing. Now I fantasise about being able to connect with other people the way I would like.

I have a lot of fantasies about waking up I've day to find everyone other than me has died, and then living out the rest of my life scavenging dried/tinned food from supermarkets and enjoying the peace and quiet. When I share this with NTs they say they'd rather kill themselves than live like that, which I don't understand. Like I get that you'd eventually want to have a plan to take yourself out so you don't have to suffer through untreated cancer or whatever, but I don't see why you wouldn't live happily alone for a couple of decades first.

To have a poor interaction with another, is to be seen as odd or unrewarding by those unaware of ASD, so opportunities for will be less.  

To operate effectively and cooperatively in society, is to be able to communicate, I feel that the degree of intelligence one can wield depends on the of level of social interaction. 

Ultimately if one cannot communicate to a rhetorical degree, then one cannot apply reason and logic to a conversation, I think that it inhibits a persons ability to take on new logic as well. 

Without the ability to augment one’s own thoughts and feelings, one will always be confined to the sanctuary of one of own imagination, perfection is possible but excellence will always be limited to one’s own wits and to the level of social interaction.

That reminds me of a fantasy I used to have. I tried to make it into a story once. I imagined there was an extra 24 hours per week where I would wake up in a tent under the trees on an exotic island and I would have time out for a whole day to do be calm and do whatever I wanted by myself.

Autistic people still need human support. We need alone time, but friends are helpful. Social interaction, in moderation, gives you a sense of perspective and is good for mental health. I used to think I didn't need anyone else. That isn't true, but I neglect being social because it's hard work.

I think there are more than we realise.  However if we were the majority do you think supermarkets would be so annoying? Or TV adverts would be so annoying. ...or there wouldnt be more appreciation for the natural world in general. ..or that we wouldnt need to mask as much as we do.

I'm getting confused on my woulds and wouldn'ts but you get the gist. 

I agree, I like that about it though - it feels like a social interaction that I can completely control. I can put the book down whenever I want, and there's no expectations on me to do anything.

This is also why I like watching people's vlogs on YouTube - I feel like I'm hanging out with someone minus all the pressure  

Do we know for a fact that we are the minority?

I think of reading as a kind of social interaction, tbh. I'm reading the thoughts of another human being and getting a glimpse into their personality. That's more intimate than a lot of real-world social interactions that I have!

I understand. Honestly there's way too much pressure to be with people and to have friends, sets the bar high from a young age and if you find it challenging you get left out which leads to depression and social anxiety. That's what happened to me. I'm happy at home, on my own. I prefer communicating online, it's easier, no eye contact and no stress.

I do want social interactions, albeit on my terms (not overwhelming, not as frequent as many would like). I'm getting married to someone who connects with me and, like me, is willing to spend time together, but doing our own thing.

Inasmuch as wanting to be social is the norm, it's how we evolved. Our nearest relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas are social animals. Statistically, most people do want social interactions. Our autistic brains are wired differently and we don't, or not to the same extent. But statistically we're in the minority, so we're not the default option. That's democracy, I guess.

I feel exactly the same. I have enough things to do (& a cat!)  to prevent boredom being indoors. 

How were we living before Amazon prime will always be a dilemma to unravel .. I guess that is a modern version of my "dream", but I add the landscape and water because I love it.. being stuck within 4 walls is not as pleasant/comforting to me as being able to lay on grass, smell the sea and feel the sun!

I'm a solitary bee and like it. I see my parents for about an hour a week and that's just right at the moment 

I still have to interact with someone (s) to buy my island and set it up ofcourse.. I was talking more of becoming self sufficient on an ongoing basis, not just the initial period of settling.

Maybe realistically this is not a sustainable model forever but I would absolutely love to go there on holidays multiple times a year to recharge!

Also FYI, no leopards exist on the island!

The idea of being on an island and having to be completely self-sufficient doesn't appeal to me, but put me in a house with lots of books, good WiFi so I can get anything I need delivered and a few cats and I would be in heaven I could easily not leave my house if I didn't force myself to.

I completely get it. Honestly I do want social interaction, it something I really need and struggle to get because of the ASD, and I can get really depressed about not being able to go out and interact with people the way I want to, as the world just chives to a different rhythm to me.

But a private island sounds wonderfully. I could just have quiet. And a lovely big forest to just wander through and get lost in. And I could invite people if I wanted to, people who get me and will go with my flow.

It would be great.

I'm presuming that you are not a multi-talented architect/builder. To achieve your 'dream home' you would have to interact with lots of professionals, that probably answers your question. Without society, we would not have anything. We would still be fructivorous/scavenging bipedal apes, sitting in trees during the night, afraid of leopards.

I can cope with one to one or small groups on my terms, but I do wish people wouldn't treat us like there was something wrong if we don't want to go into busy places and socialise. I agree that it should be accepted and not challenged. 

I completely understand. To be honest I'd be perfectly happy alone with my two cats and have also shared the dream of a home in the middle of nowhere. Socialising often leaves me exhausted too. 

My partner is pretty good and I love him a lot so he'd be the only one welcome in my deserted island.