OCD Nerdliness

I definite geek, nerd, and dork differently. To me, they are related but distinct categories.

 

Geek--someone who likes strange things, things that may not be "cool" or socially acceptable to a random selection of people. Geeks are weird but can still have social skills.
Nerd--someone who likes science, math, computers, videogames and other "nerdly" activities. Frequently socially awkward but is painfully aware of it, sometimes shy, has a hard time getting laid.
Dork--someone who is socially awkward but doesn't know it (ignorance is bliss). Likes silly or dumb things.

 

Many will disagree with my definitions, but that's my worldview and I'm comfortable with it.

 

I primarily identify myself as a geek (or geek beak, a special appellation given to those geeks with a tendency to get very silly. I think that's what my momma meant when she called us that, anyways).

 

But sometimes other traits surface. Particularily with items that strike the OCD cord in me. To me certain habits are really inner nerdliness making itself known.

 

For instance, at work I use a variety of colored highlighters. They reside in a metal mesh cup on my desk. They all have to have the caps facing down (to make them last longer) and they have to go in the order of the rainbow (see my obsession with rainbows here).

Other OCD things of mine:

• I own blue, green, yellow, orange, and red Fiesta dinnerware. The dishes must be stacked in order of the rainbow as well. Since inheriting additional green plate settings from my dad, it's been driving me nutso that I have more green than any other color since it disrupts my neat ordered world.
• When stacking things of varying sizes, they must go in order of largest-to-smallest.
• Square things out of alignment make me a bit bonkers, so I will straighten them to align with edges whether it's my property or not.
• Papers have to be completely squared when stapled, paperclipped, or stacked together.
• My closet is organized by the type of clothing--tanks, stretchy tops, sweaters, button shirts, tunics, etc. I use items that are a bit of both to act as "transition" pieces (I draw the line at organizing by color within these categories).
• My books, CDs and DVDs are organized not alphabetically, but by most favorite to least favorite. It's a system that makes no sense to anyone but me. I know if somethings out of place however!
• Folded towels--these must be folded in a certain way (hotdog hamburger hamburger), with every towel stacked the same way so that the big fold faces out. When my husband folds towels I have a hard time not going back & refolding them after he's done. He caught me doing it once and threatened to never fold towels again. Now we have an agreement that he washes & I fold them, and everyone's happy.
• Grocery shopping. I make a meal plan for the week and write down everything needed for the meals. Then I cross off whatever we currently have at home, and re-write the list so that the items are in the same order I would find them as I walk through the store. While at the store, I get out my little calculator and add up the item cost so I know where I'm at with my budget (and whether I can get that box of ice cream cones...)
• Keyboards. I have to type on a keyboard before I purchase it. If it doesn't feel or sound right, I won't buy it. If you see me in Best Buy or Office Max near the keyboards, you'll catch me typing on them just for fun.

There are other things but I think that's enough sharing for now.

I come by my OCD honestly. I can't say whether it's nature or nurture, as my mom has her OCD things too, and while I've picked up some habits that are the same, others are entirely my own, and some (like the coffee mug handles all having to point in the same direction) I somehow escaped.

What's your OCD nerdliness like?