ABOUT ME:
My name is Charlie, and I was born in Northern California on March 14th, 1989. I’ve been living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania since July 2005. I am the proud owner of a 2010 Toyota Tacoma regular cab 2WD (5-lug) that my parents bought brand new for me as a present of sorts when I finally got my learner’s permit in 2009. The truck has been paid off since at least 2013 (My dad may have paid it off in late 2012, and I know for a fact that it was fully paid for by November 2013), the title is in my name, and I pay for the insurance and most of the maintenance, so yes, this is MY truck. My truck has accompanied me to numerous autism-related events over the years, including THIS ONE in July 2011 and THIS ONE in August 2020…
I also have Aspergers Syndrome, which is a high-functioning form of autism. Some people who know a lot about autism spectrum disorders can tell that I’m on the spectrum, but the vast majority are shocked when I tell them I have it. I was diagnosed in 1998 at the age of 9.
People are surprised because many of them lump all people with autism into one perceived stereotype, and are shocked that someone who is on the spectrum can do all the stuff that I’ve done. I have a driver’s license, a college degree, a good job, and a ton of friends. When I hang out with my guy friends (some AS, some not), we do the same things a bunch of bros without AS would do; We get drunk, talk about cars and women, and happily engage in locker room talk about things like sex and bodily functions when there are no adults or females present. Some AS people I know are very socially awkward when it comes to romantic relationships and life in general. I won’t go into explicit detail (literally or figuratively) on a public forum, but I can proudly say I’ve had quite a bit of fun with various women over the years.
Obviously, since I own a Tacoma, I know how to drive and thus have a driver’s license. I also know how to drive a stick shift! This is something that one of my friends with AS who has a driver’s license, and only a few of my friends who don’t have AS, can do!
I have four close friends with Aspergers, and all of them have driver’s licenses and their own vehicles. Sadly, none of them have trucks of any kind. One drives a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, one drives a 2017 Kia Forte, and one drives 2011 Nissan Altima. The 4th one FINALLY got his license in October 2019 at the age of 30; He drives a 2017 Chevy Trax. When my one friend still had his learner’s permit, I took him to the DMV course after hours and taught him how to parallel park in my truck.
I got my learner’s permit when I was 20, in August 2009. My dad bought the Tacoma in September 2009. In 2011, at the age of 22, I finally took the driving test in my Tacoma. I failed the first time because I couldn’t parallel park correctly, and finally passed it on the third try in May 2011.
Anyway, I have wheels and a license. I also graduated from Bucks County Community College with an associate’s degree in journalism. I actually plan on becoming an HVAC technician, but even now, I am still not 100% sure what I want to do for a career.
From December to 2014 to January 2019, I worked as a barback at a bar/restaurant/music venue, owned by a friend of mine. I started out as a regular customer back in 2010, then made friends with the owner. A new general manager was hired in 2011, right around the time I got my driver’s license. My Tacoma played an indirect role in my first meeting with my future boss (a story for another day, available upon request). If you’d told me ten years ago I’d be working at a bar and actually kind of enjoying it, I’d laugh at you. I started out as the general manager’s personal assistant and errand runner, and then after about a year of working at Puck, I was put on the books as a barback. For those who don’t know, a bar back is bartender’s assistant who also performs duties like bussing tables, cleaning bathrooms, and picking up various bar supplies. It’s not glamorous, but it beats the shit out of retail! I was effectively furloughed in January 2019, when the bar closed indefinitely for renovations (work hasn’t even begun)!
I detailed cars at a large dealership from September 2018 to June 2019, while simultaneously working as a barback during my last four months or so at Puck. I did not like the detailing job very much for reasons too numerous to list here.
I currently work at a defense contractor called Navmar Applied Sciences (where my dad has also worked since 2007); My primary job is taking care of the company vehicles, and I have been there since September 2019. It’s a desk job and it can be boring sometimes, but I love the company and who I work with; I also make $17.00/hour, get paid vacations, and have a 401K, so I’m not complaining!
When Puck reopens, I will barback on weekends to supplement my income; I also delivered food for DoorDash on weekends to make extra money prior to COVID, and plan on doing that again once the pandemic is over.
I am lifelong fan of Chevy trucks and hope to own one someday in addition to my beloved Tacoma, but my Tacoma is also much better for navigating congested streets and narrow alleyways of Doylestown than a full-size Chevy or GMC 1500.
It’s worth noting that the «powers that be» recently lumped all autism spectrum disorders together in the DSM-5 and did away with Asperger’s Syndrome as a diagnosis. I do not agree with this, especially since autism can go hand in hand with other intellectual disabilities and mental problems!
Interests of mine include photography, writing (obviously), Chevy and GMC trucks, Rolls-Royce motorcars, dogs, women, building LEGO models, binge-watching my favorite childhood cartoons on Disney+ and Hulu, and so much more!
I have recently developed an interest in postwar Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars, and dream of owning one someday (preferably a 1979-1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II, a 1980-1986 Rolls-Royce Camargue, or a 1992-1993 Bentley Continental R)!
Anyway, I have Asperger’s and I drive a Tacoma. I’m wondering if anyone else out there is like me…
THE STARTING POST OF THE ORIGINAL THREAD THAT THIS SPECIFIC POST WAS FORMED FROM:
Also, instead of thinking ahead and «reserving posts» in a dedicated build thread, I kinda shot from the hip and did stuff on TW without thinking back in 2014. This build thread is merged together from numerous other threads I’ve started between July 2014 and the present day; The first two threads in this MegaThread are my original «New Member Intro» and a my very first question about a quirk with my truck’s A/C system that I was experiencing at the time…
In general, my Taco has been a GREAT truck. However, this weird thing with the A/C has been going on for almost as long as we’ve owned it (purchased new in September 2009).
If I’m driving at highway speeds (about 55-70 miles per hour), and I have the A/C going, the A/C will cut out VERY BRIEFLY during bouts of rapid acceleration, like when I am passing a big rig or slow-moving vehicle in the left lane. For example, I will be traveling at 55-65 MPH and will briefly accelerate to 65-80 MPH (depending on the speed limit). It blows cool instead of freezing cold, and then goes right back to freezing cold. It is as if the compressor completely shuts off or disengages.
Just recently, I told my friend who is a mechanic about this and he thinks I might need a recharge. The guy at the Toyota dealer where I always bring my truck for routine maintenance said it is normal, and the engine is reducing strain on itself by reducing power to or completely shutting off the A/C compressor. Again, I have owned the truck since new and this has been going on since at least 2011. A/C works fine and blows cold otherwise.
I would like a second (or third) opinion. Thanks!
