I've obviously never had an LD but I've been doing research and working for a while towards attaining one. My question is about the actual experience of the lucid dream. From everything I've read I can't quite grasp it still. Please only reply if you've had an LD.

When you lucid dream is it something that happens in the present time? As in... when you become lucid you are aware of it as if you were simply awake and going about your waking life?

Or is it something you remember when you wake up as an extremely vivid experience but not "in the present"?

Sorry if that's unclear... and a thanks to everywone who can answer.