Hi Dave.

"Some of my dreams are so vivid that I occasionally will mistake them for a genuine memory (I hope that doesn't sound weird but it happens)."

Don't worry that has happened to me before too. Scince you have vivid dreams it would be good to start a dream journal if you haven't already, you might see some patterns (dream signs) in your dreams that would help you become lucid. I also dream in color. And welcome to DV (dream views).