Are you known by name at any food store, and have you ever been asked if you want 'the usual'?

I think adult autism screening tests should include the question... Are you known by name at any food store, and have you ever been asked if you want 'the usual'?
Ok, so I've made this joke before and still think it's hilarious because it's true, but I actually want to talk about this seriously for a minute, and probably not in the way you might be expecting.
So, the reason this is a common autistic experience is because we tend to rely on what we know we like or are at least comfortable with to avoid unexpected triggers.
Well, I realized something this morning while saying goodbye to one of my favorite batistas who is moving on today after working at my local Starbucks for a couple of years. For context, I saw her most mornings during that time period.
So this is what I realized this morning...
A side effect of doing the same things over and over again while the world is in constant flux around you, particularly when people are involved... is that you get comfortable with the people who are part of your comfort activities... and when they move on, it's more than just... your routine is changed and you have to adjust... it's now a person who brought comfort to you no longer being a part of your life... even in just that small way.
This might sound a bit melodramatic, but there is a certain amount of loss you experience.
And my suspicion is that this loss is something autistic people experience often because one of the main ways autistic people cope in life is by creating trusted and long-lasting, routines that make them feel safe. And we do this across many different aspects of our lives.
But that's my take, if you're autistic, I'm curious to know what you think.

[@persephonebasilissa5109]

When things opened back up after lockdown, my hair salon with my trusted stylist stayed closed.

[@thesincitymama]

For example: I cried in the bath tub this morning because I missed the Visiting Nurse lady who helped me through rehabilitation 15 years ago. (I didn’t cry cuz I needed her help, just cuz I missed her.)

[@ritarevell7195]

I believe you make some valid points. I am late diagnosised ASD and ADHD. To be honest, a change in my routine was unsettling. I prefer to think I'm more flexible, and in certain areas I can be. But in others areas, routine makes life tolerable.