These "experiences" we have are fascinating; they are few and far between for me. That said, I happen to be married to a prophet/psychic intuitive for whom otherworldly encounters are a 24/7 reality.
I can't explain much of what happens around here, but I have grown fairly certain there is much more between heaven and earth than we can perceive with our ordinary senses. I am also convinced that these things and beings exist and eventually our science will catch up to such a degree we will be able to see and hear this stuff.
Beyond that — I'll ask you this weird question: have you ever been clinically dead? I'm convinced people's senses are changed by dying. My wife has been dead three times (twice in a hospital operating room); I have once when I fell out of a tree at age 10 and had no pulse for 7 minutes.
Again, some day science will explain all this.
No I have never been clinically dead @denmarkguy, but have always been exceptionally receptive to other word experiences and I absolutely agree with everything you have said!! It truly is very fascinating!