Wandering as an adult

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When I go shopping with my gf and my roommates I tend to wander, a lot. Sometimes they feel that I get "bored" or rudely stop paying attention to them when we stop at an isle to look at products. But unless we stop at the art supply isle, for example, or the books or colorful toys and fabrics I start to . . . wander. I see an item the next isle over (like a rubber ball or a hoola hoop or a pack of markers) and I start. . . going that way. I want to SEE the item and examine it and next thing I know i picked up thirteen other items five isles down and my friends are calling me to come back or asking me where I went.

It is not severe enough to like, put me in jeopardy. But I think I do it, a lot. I get so easily distracted. I get told often that I simply do not care about anything else except what I want. (What I want to do, what I want to see, what I want to talk about) and I have tried really hard to curb that, but it is DIFFICULT to not get bored talking about things that I cannot connect with my intersts, or standing still on an isle in a store for like 15 minutes discussing a product.

I want my household to feel I want to be involved in household activities or in things and events that concern and involve all of us, but sometimes its super hard.

Any thoughts?

Woah.
I don't know how to help you....but I just realized that I do the same thing.

I have sort of a "distance" agreement with my family - they give me my space but they know that I care about them.

Maybe that could help you?

Apparently shopping is a social activity with others whereby you are supposed to be interested in what they are purchasing and help them weigh up the pros and cons of different items to help them choose by giving feedback on whether something fits well, is fashionable, is a reasonable price etc.

The way I prefer to shop when with others - all split off in different directions and get what you have to get as quickly as possible then regroup and get the hell out. I usually have a limit of approximately 1 hour before I start to loose it when shopping.

I have offended several people by insisting on shopping in my way rather than their way.
I dont shop with others anymore except my daughter - who I will put up with anything for.

I was wandering all over the mall today. My mom is used to it. I prefer not to shop in front of people because I don't want to be judged for my choices before I have even made them! I also wander off to the bathroom a lot because I have to go urgently very often and don't have the time to wait for a break in the conversation to let people know that I am headed to the bathroom for the 5th time. They know that's where I am going anyways.

Yeah, I do this to, except it's more deliberate, I'm aware that I'm walking away and leaving the person there, but I only do it if they're not trying to engage my attention in some way at the time. I only do it in single shops, not malls; I have an abysmal sense of direction and would get horribly lost if not contained to a single building. I never really thought it was odd, but I guess I'm not the best person to judge normalcy.

I prefer to go off alone during shopping expeditions.

Admittedly, I prefer not to go on shopping expeditions in the first place.

I'm 22yro and I wander a lot
I have got into a lot of trouble at work, I'm lucky that my manager has a son with aspergers and she recognized it straight away.
I find it very difficult to concentrate and that's probably not going to change

Defo can relate - sit on my own on couches etc. Wandering - eek - try to stop doing it now as i panic when i realise the person i came here with has gone and i cant find them.
I remember going to our local library once - well, that was the plan anyway - 3 hours later im sitting by the river eating sausage rolls taking pictures of ducks. Its amazing how much distraction and "ooh whats that over there!" can do to your self control and concentration levels. Ive never been back to teh library since. That was 16 years ago.
Nowadays i write where im going on my hand so i can keep reminding myself where im going.

Yeah, I get that. I wonder if you could be the one pushing the shopping cart? That way you would have to stay with the group, or at least would have to leave the cart or push it with you, which is an extra step to get you to think, "Hey, wait a minute, is this the way I should be going right now?"

Or you could get a family member to pull you back when you get distracted. But try the cart thing first; it doesn't depend on another person paying attention.

I have only been to the shops with friends once many moons ago and I hated it! I only go with my carer now and it is their job to follow me and make sure I am not destroying things (due to Tourettes!) or running off! Some of them do their own shopping though without asking me and I will walk off on purpose then to give them a scare!

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I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

I wander off alone, and not just when I am shopping. I like the solitude and peace that wandering around gives me.