What is your idea of heaven?

Mine would be an isolated single storey stone cottage in the countryside. Preferably miles away from the nearest neighbours but within reach of shops within a 30 minutes drive. It would need to have internet connectivity, so I am not completely cut off from the world.

The garden would be a haven for wild birds and wildlife would abound in the fields and hills surrounding the cottage. The only noise would be the sounds of nature, the birdsong, the wind rustling in the trees, owls hooting at night.

There would be no crime. People would be respectful and considerate towards each other. Most importantly they would also be respectful and considerate towards nature. Humans would no longer exploit animals in the way they do now. They would not shoot birds for sport or allow any cruelty towards any animal.

I would spend my days going for long walks and interacting with nature. There would be a beautiful green shimmering lake within walking distance, some where I could go to watch the ever changing reflections on the water.

Autonomistic said:

There would be no crime. People would be respectful and considerate towards each other. Most importantly they would also be respectful and considerate towards nature. Humans would no longer exploit animals in the way they do now. They would not shoot birds for sport or allow any cruelty towards any animal.

I think our heavens are quite similar, including the sounds at night, the garden being a haven for birds and wildlife, going for long walks and  living in a stone built cottage!  I would like to assure you that my heavenly dogs would be peaceful and gentle and not do a lot of barking, only the occasional low pitched woof when neccessary..!

The part of your heaven that I have quoted, I didn't mention that in my heaven, but would it would be a crucially important part of mine too. To a great extent it is because things are not like that that I struggle so much and suffer so much with anxiety.

Also, I would like to include the beautiful green shimmering lake within walking distance, it sounds lovely! I would like that to be closer than the sea which would be much further away so I could only hear it if I chose to go there. I would like to go there to the lake to sit quietly and smell the water and listen to all the bird sounds and watch the little ducklings eating weeds!

Autonomistic said:

There would be no crime. People would be respectful and considerate towards each other. Most importantly they would also be respectful and considerate towards nature. Humans would no longer exploit animals in the way they do now. They would not shoot birds for sport or allow any cruelty towards any animal.

I think our heavens are quite similar, including the sounds at night, the garden being a haven for birds and wildlife, going for long walks and  living in a stone built cottage!  I would like to assure you that my heavenly dogs would be peaceful and gentle and not do a lot of barking, only the occasional low pitched woof when neccessary..!

The part of your heaven that I have quoted, I didn't mention that in my heaven, but would it would be a crucially important part of mine too. To a great extent it is because things are not like that that I struggle so much and suffer so much with anxiety.

Also, I would like to include the beautiful green shimmering lake within walking distance, it sounds lovely! I would like that to be closer than the sea which would be much further away so I could only hear it if I chose to go there. I would like to go there to the lake to sit quietly and smell the water and listen to all the bird sounds and watch the little ducklings eating weeds!

Autonomistic said:

I'm often quoting the Luke Beardon golden autism equation and it is very apt in this discussion.

Autism + Environment = Outcome

I think Luke Beardon’s golden equation is great! So accurate, simple and truthful.

I'm sorry to hear you've been so burnt out from external pressures. When a forum member is absent it would be nice to think that they are just out there enjoying life but I suspect in many cases the reality is very different unfortunately.

Many of us struggle so much without adequate (or any) support. When the pressures are on a daily basis it is relentless. I don't think people understand what it is like to have to live with constant anxiety that never goes away.

I really hope things improve for you and you feel able to keep posting.

That's an extremely good idea and would make things much less stressful!

You were very helpful to me too. I loved this forum because of the wonderful people here but my anxiety and trying to cope with external pressures uses up all my energy sometimes and then there's none left to participate in anything for months on end... or at least that is how it feels.

I often think about that golden autism equation, it's refreshing to hear something like that instead of always thinking that I need to change myself and my responses. But, as we both have experienced, it's not always possible to or doesn't always seem possible to change our environment (some may disagree). 

I'd be happy to put the sea a substantial distance away to remove the seagull risk or even eliminate it altogether. Those little ducklings in your photo are so sweet, it's very sad to think that happened to them. The mother must have been distraught. I didn't know that seagulls did that!

Well, the ducks may well be eating baby frogs from the weeds so you'd be best off if all the animals just agreed to eat vegan. Then you could keep the sea wherever you want it. 

It's good to see you active on this forum again. I remember you were very helpful to me when I first started posting here.

I agree that our ideas of heaven do seem very similar and there are so many common themes. Your assurances about the noise are appreciated!

Freedom from a life of anxiety is also a common theme that I didn't mention in my original post. I assumed that it wouldn't be there in our perfect environment, there would be no reason to be. I'm often quoting the Luke Beardon golden autism equation and it is very apt in this discussion.

Autism + Environment = Outcome

Sitting quietly and watching the ducklings eating weeds sounds bliss. We don't want the idyllic lake too close to the sea, as that would risk the seagulls flying in and eating them. That unfortunately happened to these little ducklings whilst I was on holiday near the coast earlier in the year