There’s quite a bit of wind blowing as I begin my week on Friday afternoon. I notice it as I ride my electric bike the last few meters to the apartment building where I’ve been living for a few weeks now. With some greenery in the street, just a stone’s throw from the park, and much quieter than my previous home.
A little while later, I’m back in my small but cozy apartment. Honestly, I like being at home, and due to my limitations, it takes more effort for me to go out, but you couldn’t call me a true homebody.
On Friday afternoon, my week truly begins. At around 5 PM, I start preparing for a new week filled with challenges. Each week, I make a schedule for the upcoming week and try to follow it diligently. An hour later, I have an overview of the main appointments, tasks, and movements until the following Friday.
This overview not only gives me peace of mind but also provides room to push boundaries. I have trouble with last-minute arrangements or not knowing what to expect the next day. Of course, my week doesn’t necessarily go smoothly because of this. Things can still go wrong or I can get lost, even though that doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. I try to avoid it as much as possible because I don’t need any extra stress.
Around 5:45 PM, my wife, making dinner in the kitchen, sends me a text that we’ll be having dinner in five minutes. I sometimes forget to eat because I have very little sense of hunger or thirst, and I get so caught up in the task at hand that I just keep going.
Roos, my wife, on the other hand, values routines and that helps me. We’ve been together for over ten years and have a “together apart” relationship, with our cat. Like me, she has autism, which makes socializing day and night more exhausting. Additionally, like me, she has a lot of talents and is incredibly kind, caring, and accepts me for who I am. That’s ultimately what matters to me.
Just like every day, after dinner, we take a step into the world together. You can take that literally; we go for an evening walk. It’s still fairly chilly, around freezing, but the last sun makes up for it. We usually take the same route: a little through a green residential area, past an elementary school, by the library branch, around a pond, then along the sea dike and back home.
During our walk, we talk about what kept us busy, surprised or irritated us that day, and what we’re looking forward to in the coming week. We both have a lot of interests and hobbies, so there’s always something to talk about. The walk is also a good moment to bond and to enjoy each other’s company. And at the end of the day, that’s what life’s all about, isn’t it?
The European Autist 