Just to put the dot back at the horizon, you can have a "normal" job. If you can find something you like and can (hyper) focus on it's details you can excel at it.
I've been going into electronics, and I make the same as my partner does. The hardest part of my job for me is the social aspect, but the machines at least don't need to be talked to. Being a man of rules and details comes in verry handy for programming and such too.
Another thing to note is that the generally noted "smartest" people in history most likely had a form of autism. It can of course not be proven, but they where hyper focused in the area they are known for. But dint know or where bad at other 'simpler' areas.
To come back to your question of making money at home, I would personally go into 3D printing or so. It's rewarding, lots to learn, and there is still room to make a buck
Make sure to check about SSI rules before doing anything btw
I have opened and tried to fix all my things. Including multiple cheap mouses. Although I have not always been successful, I mostly see it as an experience, and as a learning moment. It's broken anyway, so it could only get better. Quite often I'm able to improve on it too! (add USB C charging to a mouse)
But besides that I can recommend making a image of the drive ans storing it somewhere. This way you can flash everything back, there would be a ton of applications that would not run if you try and restore the files only.
Last option should be to customly copy files from folders around. This would not guarantee you can restore Windows. But you maybe would be able to restore config at a much lower storage amount
As much as I like cats. I can also see/share your point.
Here in NL a company is legally not allowed to cut power for 'saving a cat' reason, and will be heavily fined for it.
It might not be the answer your asking/looking for.
But I have an LG TV (with LG soundbar), but I have it on a seperated Vlan, so it can't connect to the internet. But it still allows me to read the on/off state and send Wake On LAN packages. And this is good enough for me
Streaming with Music Assistant to the sound bar also still works
Move to NL, we dont have locks on our gas hoses, so when you let go it stops