That's a pretty interesting point, actually. I used to be HORRIBLE in pretty much any social situation, but then I decided to make social psychology a "hobby" of mine, and learned to pick up cues (facial tics, body language, etc...) about what people were telling me with their body, tone of voice and vocal mannerisms; and after doing that for a few years, social things became much much easier for me.

I kind of went the opposite way; after many years of trying to be OK in social situations and more or less pulling it off, I finally admitted to myself that actually, but for the societal conditioning that people without rich and varied social lives are somehow missing something, I really don't like having people around me for any great length of time... and ok, my ability to cope in social situations is more or less shot, but the rest of the time (which for me, is the majority of the time) I'm a lot happier - and the rare times when I do get a feeling of wishing there was someone close to talk to, I know that it's usually because I'm bored, and finding something to do will send it on its way.

Indeed. My family, who basically haven't really known me since I left home, are sure I do have Asperger's; my friends, all of whom have only known me since I've lived alone, are equally sure I don't (although they will happily describe me as 'odd' or 'weird').