Do you feel more in-touch with nature than other people?
Ok, I'm a big nature person. I spent every summer day as a kid alone in the woods, pretending I was an animal, or hanging out with cats, finding fruit, or catching frogs. I don't remember being too aware of other people, unless they were pretending with me, then it was rarely, and usually only one close friend.
I still adore nature, and animals. I'm perfectly content spending hours wandering silently, just observing stuff in the natural world. I actually dislike other people being with me during this time, and usually run off to explore on my own a bit. (a fellow silent wanderer would be nice I imagine). I communicate and handle animals well. They virtually always like me.
I am very good at identifying species, and particularly love reptiles. I'm great at finding them at catching them. My ears are super-tuned to animal movement, and my eyes too. The whole situation is great, if your ears pick up every slight sound, and your eyes do the same with small movements. Those are aspie traits, right?
And ok, this is slightly embarrassing, and I've never really admitted it, but I have what seems to be a predator instinct. XD I don't know how to make that sound more normal. Any time I see a small creature, the first thought is to spring for it. If it's a bird or mammal, I get the impulse to kill it, after catching it. I have to stop myself a lot. Pigeons on the street= chase. XD I'm SO weird. My dad's pet bird's feather smell actually has made me hungry. If I didn't feel sympathy for it, or my dad's liking it, I wouldn't mind killing it by biting it, and then making a little sandwich meat.
And fishing is awesome for the same hunting thing. Catching with hands is better. Killing something, as a food item, without a gun or tools is a really great feeling.
And as if that's weird enough, I DREAM about hunting animals with my hands/mouth.
I don't think I'm cruel. I feel bad if it's ever actually killed. Not so much if it's food and I don't like the species. So I don't act on these impulses unless it's for food, is a major pest animal, or if it's catch and release. Really it's just stuff you can eat, or will feed to something.
Ok, so now I'm probably so weird you won't like me as much. But I've been wondering if I'm the only one like that. :/ It's weird. Sometimes I wish I could just become a wolf anamagus and get it over with. Is it an aspie thing? To feel more in touch with animals, and belonging in nature? Or am I just a freaky animal-girl?
GoddessofSnowandIce
Sea Gull
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 209
Location: Antarctica (frequently seen around Lansdale, PA)
I actually find nature very sensory overwhelming (especially in the spring and summer). I like the predictable environment of the indoors. Bugs freak me out when they fly at my face. I have a phobia of caterpillars that has haunted me for 2 decades now (was tortured as a kid w/them). I'm allergic to everything green, so being amongst grass and trees makes me itch. My skin is practically fluorescent, so the sun burns me (even w/heavy duty sunblock). My eyes are sensitive to really bright light, so when the sun's bright, I get a headache and experience terrible glare problems (even w/polarized sunglasses).
Wintertime is when I enjoy nature the most. Everything is peaceful, the air smells fresh and clean and I'm not itchy or sneezy.
Sorry for sounding whiney. I'm glad you have something with which helps you connect with yourselves. I feel like I'm the only one who can't stand being outdoors and a lot of people don't understand why. I know you guys wouldn't be judgemental, so this was a perfect outlet.
_________________
"If there's one thing in my life that these years have taught it's that you can always see it coming, but you can never stop it." ~Cowboy Junkies
I've slept outdoors, in the woods, in trees, on rooftops, under porches, on beaches.
I am a predator, I once came across a deer in the woods, and rather than being startled, or frightened, I gave chase, intending to catch it.
Ever seen a cat walk around in a yard, sniffing things, looking at birds, and suddenly haul ass after a squirrel?
I can restrain my urge to go chase squirrels, barely, but besides that I'm a large cat.
Me + Nature = one very happy camper.
My mom's huge side of the family has a cabin in the middle of nowhere about 3 hours away, and my parents, sister and I go up for a week every summer. It's great being up there in the middle of the woods without worrying about anything more important then, "which am I going to do today, kayak or hike?"
And animals? Personal opinion here, but most animals make better companions than many of our fellow human beings.
_________________
Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth. -Mark Twain
If life gives you lemons, make grape juice, sit back and watch the world wonder how you did it.
I am a predator, I once came across a deer in the woods, and rather than being startled, or frightened, I gave chase, intending to catch it.
Ever seen a cat walk around in a yard, sniffing things, looking at birds, and suddenly haul ass after a squirrel?
I can restrain my urge to go chase squirrels, barely, but besides that I'm a large cat.
You're like me then! This makes me feel better.
We should hunt squirrels through a park sometime.
I tell my girlfriend all the time "you've got a thing for black cats", she's got a bombay (Reggie), a fat fluffball (Alfie), and an Aspie (Max)... all three of us have pitch black hair, but Alfie was neutered young, so only Reggie and I have the real hunting urge.
They couldn't figure out why Reggie leaves mice at the door some days, but not others, I told them to check the food bowl when he does, he's trying to contribute, if there is no food in the bowl, he figures we're all hungry, so he goes and kills a mouse.
We get rid of the mice, so he assumes we're eating them, sweet really.
Blindspot149
Veteran
Joined: 7 Oct 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,516
Location: Aspergers Quadrant, INTJ, AQ 45/50
Google the 9 intelligences. It's about learning styles. One of the 9 (or 8 if you prefer, a lot of people leave out the religious one) is Natural. When I learned about them in Ed. Psych I thought the whole framework was really cool and an interesting tool for understanding people and teaching. However the concept of Nature as a learning style seemed odd to me. I thought of it more as a preference, like some people like to play basketball, some people like chocolate, some people like nature. Then, I had my second son. He is an Aspie, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. He is extremely tuned in to nature and thinks about everything in regards to it. He especially interested sharks and oceanograpy in general, but he loves all kinds of animals.
I could definitely perseverate on this topic, but finals week is approaching so I need to keep it relatively brief.
Society = like my battery, already low-capacity, gets drained super-fast
Nature = I can almost *literally* feel tiny plus signs entering my pores + + + + + + + + + + + + +
I love canoeing and kayaking, especially on really hot days. I have an unusual obsession with sand and sandbars. I love hiking, caves, trees, animals, and everything about nature. I hate "camping areas" that pack people in like sardines and that light up like a giant truck stop at night.
My favorites: Stars, full moon, barred owls ("Who cooks for yooooouuuuuuu?" These three ingredients, plus 65+ degree F temp and complete solitude, equals heaven on earth. Especially if I am sandbar camping or camping near a babbling brook.
I don't just *want* nature, I *need* it, and I get emotionally, mentally, and eventually physically ill if I go without it for more than a few days. All of my doctors are ordering me to rest and heal all summer after school gets out, and I plan to spend almost the entire time outdoors.
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