I don't want to invalidate anyone's experience, I know autism is variable and everyone is different to some extent. It is totally possible to have multiple special interests.

But that is one thing I've had a hard time relating to within online ND spaces. People seem to often have a large list of special interests.

I've only ever had one, albeit it's a fairly broad one (animals) and my focus has shifted over time from dogs, to reptiles, to arachnids. But my whole entire life it's aways been within that one category.

And while the biggest focus does shift I would still consider all animals to be a SI of mine at any given time. I WILL infodump at a moments notice about any animal species you want (or don't want) to hear about.

I do have other interests but I wouldn't call them special interests, they aren't anywhere near as intense. I can go without engaging with them for chunks of time and be just fine. Zoology and animal husbandry is everything to me, my life would feel empty and directionless without it.

Honestly the fear of not being allowed to keep my critters is a big reason I've tried to avoid going into assisted living, even knowing it would otherwise be good for me. But that's probably a conversation for another post 😅

Anyways up until now I've mostly been in spaces dominated by LSN folks so I'm curious if my experience of having just a singular SI might be more common for people with MSNs or HSNs.

What's your special interest or interests? Has it always been the same, or has it shifted in focused or even totally changed over time?