How do other Aspies find happiness?

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Definitely. I agree wholeheartedly. But then, books are my obsession.

That's a brilliant post, Criss. I agree with what you're saying about searching inside yourself. Looking at others and assuming you should be the same just doesn't seem to work.

In a way it is a simple message. Too simple, so I can guarantee the majority will pay little attention. Maybe in years or decades to come, and after many failed attempts to 'fit in' and 'follow the herd', will realise that something totally different is required.

Incessant noise and distraction isn't conducive to contentment in anyone, and we are the ones who are even less able to tolerate it.

My dog makes me happy. Just looking at that cute little face and playing with her floppy ears or watching her act strangely. There are a few bands that make me really happy. My happiest moments are seeing those bands live.
There are certain people that I remember having good times with.
I'm pretty happy.

collecting stuff makes me happy. i have one large gem from slaughter mountain, and one on its way from deer creek. alls i need know is one from auguelentis mexcio, calvillo and cali

Money is it's own curse. The more you have, the more you become a target of the government (taxes), other people (lawsuits, money motivated friends and spouses).

There isn't much of anything in life that can't be screwed up

I thought about it, but I don't understand how there's anything AS-specific about finding happiness.

Most people ask themselves the same question and they're largely non-autistic too.

I just want to be able to support myself and alleviate boredom. When my brother graduated college, he moved into a small apartment by himself. He couldn't afford much so he had his friends over all the time or his girlfriend (now wife) and they'd just hang out, drink, play games, etc. Or he'd go over to one of his friends' places and do the same thing. If they really wanted to splurge, they'd go to a bar and shoot pool, play darts, etc. He didn't have cable TV, he didn't buy video games, hell, he didn't even have Internet access.

Even if those were options for me, they wouldn't make me happy. On my current income, even though I live with my mom, I support many of the bills, including my cable internet and HD cable at the house. Since TV is one of my main interests this is key. If I was on my own, I probably couldn't afford this. I also play video games. If I was living on my own currently, I wouldn't be able to afford them and I'd have nothing to occupy my time with. I don't have any friends so when I'm at home, I'd be there by myself and not having anything to do but sit and stare at the walls or read a book occasionally would drive me insane.

Have you considered joining any adult Aspergers/HFA groups in your area?

my solution really was to find my own little world to live in. I dabble in many different hobbies, and they keep me pretty well occupied. I draw, listen to many types of music, watch youtube, make origami, watch anime, colect pictures of various sportscars, go to various conventions, and generally keep myself fairly busy. I have gotten alot better with regards to friends, and I live with two of them as roomates currently, so they occasionally drag me along with them when they go somewhere. MY main issue is not happiness, because Ive managed that quite well, but instead a sense of being static. Like you I havent dated or really gotten much of a headway in college. I dont know, at 26, what I want to do with my life generally so Im kind of stuck going to work and coming home. Howeever, I do find ways to remain happy and am quite successful at doing so. My suggestion to you is figure out what hobbies you really love, and then meet with people of like interest. So at least youll have osmething to talk to them about and you may even make friends along the way. It cant hurt anything if you try. Im awkward as hell around friends, but it has kind of become my trademark amongst them. Im weird and spontaneous and random and my friends love that. I am never boring to them.

being alive and thus being able to observe the universe and learn about anything i want to makes me happy.

I've certainly never been able to be happy...

I have never really been happy. There have been things in my life that I've enjoyed doing such as writing, taking care of animals & discovering the joys of the internet, but there's always been this emptiness surrounding everything I do. I can't find a point to wake up in the morning other than to eat & then what would it matter if I didn't? It wouldn't matter, even if I starved myself to death the world would still go on. Even if everyone on this earth died the universe would still be here. I can't see why anything matters & I know I'm probably causing my own unhappiness but it's like all I see is the reality of existence - it just doesn't matter.

Some days I am happy some days miserable... hard to keep track of things because I get so into my own head it magnifies how I feel that day. Life pisses me off a lot, but I have it pretty good. I've got an NT friend who is in his 30's and is in the hospital dying of leukemia... it's hard to complain about my life when I think about him. You say you have student loans and you're living with mom... at least you have a place to live and don't have to support any kids. Yes life sucks ass some days, but many people have it far worse so don't set the bar for happiness too high, you might get AIDS tomorrow or get your dick cut off in a lawnmower accident, making your life today seem blissfully happy by comparison.

I am lucky, I have quite a bit of money, a fairly nice car, plasma TV, leather furniture. I am tall and somewhat good looking. I have a very easy and relaxing job (albeit it's dead end and pays nothing), and I've got a degree and all my safety tickets if I want to do oilfield work. I get angry because I can't drink alcohol or do drugs anymore, I get lonely, and I can't get a GF. I do have money for escorts however so getting laid every now and then by a beautiful women is well within my reach. I have a few guys who I consider friends still, and some I still talk to every week.

I guess what I'm saying is, everyone hates their life sometimes, just keep things in perspective because life can get much worse instantly.

Get a job driving a truck. You'll make good money and be working 90% of the time, even if you're lonely you won't think about it because you'll be so busy and tired out just from working.

I've looked into a few of them, but for the most part, they are just groups of NT parents trying to learn how to deal with their AS/Austic kids. I just didn't fit in at all.

special interest as career.
minimising contact with people.
reducing anxiety through exercise.
keeping life simple