Some people see “just a tree.” I see entire biographies written in bark. Every branch, leaf, and lichen tells a story — growth patterns, soil chemistry, microclimates, hidden ecosystems. Trees are the perfect autistic muse: structured yet alive, endlessly detailed, quietly magnificent. Studying them isn’t an escape from the world — it’s a way of understanding it. AND I’ve never met a tree that did small talk.

Some people collect stamps — I collect syllables. Etymologies like treasure maps. I roll phrases around just to feel their texture, and hoard obscure adjectives like they’re rare gems. Language isn’t just communication; it’s pattern, rhythm, and possibility. If you, like me, have a deep love of words, you probably have a favorite punctuation mark — and it probably says more about you than your zodiac sign!

Power tools, hand tools, screwdrivers, wrenches, and gadgets that make life click together. Every tool has a story, a function, a design quirk waiting to be admired. I don’t just use them — we appreciate them, tinker with them, and what they’ve built and what they have yet to build! Special interest or not, there’s something deeply satisfying about holding function, order, and possibility in your hands.

From neuorscience to social science and everything in between. Human behavior is the ultimate juxtaposition of puzzle and pattern. It’s part curiosity, part obsession, and 100% a lifelong fascination.

• Maps

• All plants

• Heavy machinery

• Music

• Trees - did I mention trees?