Aspies - are you independent?

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I think out of all the people who wrote in this thread (though I do admit I haven't read everything) Pensieve is the person, with whom I identify most - both with her desire to become a writer (I know I will be famous one day), as well as with her low level of functioning. It's not due to my having severe AS (for it's not severe in my case, though not mild by any means either, I'm just in-between) but my ill will, which is in turn caused by my putative ADD (undiagnosed but I'd be really very, very surprised if my executive disfunction turned out to be just ordinary laziness; it's something much more severe). I can't find a job in my town and I need money to get out of my country. If I were on my very own, I would take care of myself properly - I'm not ret*d, after all, I just lack some self-help skills which I could acquire if I had to. If I didn't have my ADD or whatever it is, I'd already have published a few novels so far. But I will, one day.

I desperately try to be independent as I'm scared of the idea of needing assistance because my family would hate me if they found out and I would never be able to pay for it anyway... I keep trying but every single day I'm getting overloaded. I don't even have a job at the moment! I have work on Sundays only, as a church organist, and I get a little pay for that and the rest of my money comes from social welfare. I'd be living with my parents only I needed to get the hell away from them. Love 'em and all, but I cannot live with them!! I end up being the victim of tempers and stuff... So I'm trying my absolute best to get through the day - meals, shopping, my special interest i.e. practicing music (I'm halfway through a degree), yet every day I end up getting overwhelmed and exhausted and I have tried so many things and am now trying more occupational therapy and I'm still falling flat on my face! Getting so frustrated and scared that I'll never manage things by myself...

I'm 27 years old and still living with my parents due to my mental issues. My last job was in 2003 and it lasted three days. But that's only related to income. I'm certain I could manage the basics of living by myself, because I've done it before while temporarily living with my sister. Shopping, housecleaning, money managing, transportation, I can do it. I just need to rob a bank or something.

I'd say I'm 95% independent. I manage my own finances (learned the hard way, had to crash and burn), manage my own investments (still learning that), drive a car, pay all the utility and telecom bills in the home I share with my NT girlfriend. Currently unemployed and stopped paying my share of the rent. I'm a very competent cook so that makes up for it.

My "I can" list is longer than my "I can't" list.

Of Course, the biggie here that only one person has even mentioned so far is, what happens when mom and dad die? I know some of you must be dreading that eventuality. Well, I'm now 55 years old, and I've always been dependent to some extent on my father. I left home young and spent 20 years on the road playing guitar in a band, or rather, many bands. I was also briefly married and raised two kids on my own for some years.

But through all that my father was right there. Bands tended to come and go, and between tours or between bands I always had a place to crash and a fridge full of food to help myself to, and a little starter money for my next tour. When I was raising the kids he would come over every day with some meat and I'd cook supper for everyone. He really stepped in and acted as the second parent.

Well, my kids grew up and left, and my dad got sick, and at the age of 50 I found myself moving back in, like nothing had changed. I still felt like he was supporting me, especially when he got so bad I had to quit my job to take care of him full time. A few months ago he died, and left me fairly well off, but I'm still terrified. I know I can't screw up now, because there is no one to turn to. I'm on my own and there is no one at all out there that gives a damn if I blow it and end up on the street, and I'm too high functioning to qualify for any kind of help.

I am a post graduate student and the uni pays me stipends. I plan to work with my professor after PhD... I have been on my own since I was 16. I feel independent except for my dad calling me everyday and reminding me that I should be careful planning my days and about being more outgoing

Right now, I am not independent simply because of my economic situation but yes I have lived independently before. I am in the process of looking for something that will help me have the means to live independently.

Nope, but I'd really like to be. I'm a student with no job.