Published on 12, July, 2020
I was wondering today if this is an autistic thing.
I've spent several decades collecting objects and the last decade+ trying to rid myself of the majority.
However, I have given up on the idea of ever being minimalist.
I notice that I remember where everything came from, even, when purchased, which shop in which town.
I try not to be sentimental about things, but sometimes I can't help it.
My mother, who I believe was autistic, was a hoarder in quite an extreme sense.
My autistic friend finds it very hard to part with belongings.
Everything has an association.
Are others like this and are there contributors here who are genuinely minimalistic and don't have an attachment to things?
Hi Debbie,
I'm definitely not a hoarder because I can't stand clutter, but I do have a slightly obsessive passion for collecting...wait for it...moon gazing hare ornaments. Yeah, I know, random. I saw one in a shop window years ago and had to have it. I named him Hartley after the hare in the 70s/80s TV program 'Pipkins'. Now Hartley has 27 brothers and sisters, all of them with names. I hadn't made the connection between ASD and collections until I did the test, but it sort of makes sense now. Do you make lists? I do it all the time. I suspect that might be another ASD trait.
Twitch said: Do you make lists? I do it all the time. I suspect that might be another ASD trait
Yep. I have a list that is divided into sections for each day of the week, so similar to an itinerary, and lists all the tasks needed to be done each day for me and my husband (he ignores his).
I update it regularly.
I have other 'to do' lists for longer term tasks and food and other requirements lists.
My saying is 'if it's not on the list it doesn't exist'.
Twitch said:I do have a slightly obsessive passion for collecting...wait for it...moon gazing hare ornaments.
I have one of those in the garden.
In case you are interested in showing us a photo, here's a thread I made about collections:
https://community.autism.org.uk/f/adults-on-the-autistic-spectrum/30518/show-your-collection/302526#302526