I wasn't too sure where to post this... lucid discussion, or extended discussion? I'm happy for mods to move it.

I've been thinking about this for a while and I've been meaning to post it here. For me, at least, thinking back into my past, it's not that hard to mistake it for a dream. I've found that a lot of times I've mistaken past events for dreams, and vice-versa. But the thing that seperates dreams from real life is the present - look around and take in your surroundings. Everything is so vivid and real, there's no denying that you're living in reality. But think back to a distant event, a hazy memory. In terms of reality, it's very different. The present is what seperates real life from the dream world.
But what about lucidity? Does this not create a parallel with the real world? In real life we have the present, but in dreams we have lucidity - where everything is so much more vivid and real. Is there really that much difference between the two?
I'd really like to hear people's opinions on this.

Thanks.