I when I am paddle boarding or surfing. No matter how many people are out, I am in my own world.

The time of day when the sun starts going down making everything golden.

Either outside at night under the stars or amongst a group of small children

I love hiking to alpine lakes surrounded by white glaciers and jagged mountain peaks. After dark, I look up and feel awed by the glowing Milky Way and billions of sparkling stars. We all need more low-level ecstasy in our lives.

Hiking is an uplifting, transcendent experience for me. I feel most centered and grounded high in the mountains.

Seeing Impressionist paintings.

Listening to smooth, live jazz music.

Walking through an increasingly rare, old growth forest. A sanctuary.

No question - high up in the mountains

Mostly when I am creating something. The process since conception, through every improvement all the way to completion, to me that's priceless

In the Pub, playing my flute

Doing something fun I enjoy.
Doing something fun I enjoy with someone I love.
In an amazing nature setting.
Walking down a NYC street.
Doing something creative.
Lying in bed at night falling calmly asleep.
Having wonderful, insightful, and funny conversations.
Sitting in meditation or reflection.
Watching a sunrise, sunset, or a night full of stars.

Nothing like an electric storm in the distance.
Outside in the crisp cool air away form light pollution and being able to see the milky way
Seeing an Aurora Borealis
Vacationing in a foreign country and finding little known treasures
Camping
All of these activities when shared with my love one and children

Zipping down a dicey singletrack on my mountainbike, half-in/half-out of control; I often wonder how I haven't yet broken my fool neck.

Sequoia, walking among those big trees, you can almost feel their energy

Most full of Wonder...
Looking up at the stars on the Hook Peninsula Wexford.

Most Alive...
Sitting on a beach on A stormy winters day, watching the waves crash in..the wind howling..throwing rain an sea spray into my face.

Most Relaxed..
Lying on the sofa..lights dimmed down low..candles lit..Listening to Bach...drinking good red wine..

Most Hilarious..
Narrating wildlife shows on TV in funny voices while shitfaced on wine.

There is a place I used to go to. It was a measly 3500 feet elevation, but bears screeched and crickets roared. There was nothing but you and the mountain. That was where I found love of life.

Star gazing!

in nature

I like the quiet and stillness of night (I'm a night owl) there is a certain peacefulness (is that even a word--oh well) to it that recharges me. Also, looking up at the night sky, in the middle of nowhere with not too much light pollution is awe-inspiring.

The moment my lyrics are put to melody. They are dead, quiet things that suddenly spring to life. There is nothing like hearing your music being played and enjoyed!

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. - John Muir

The truly amazing moments, the ones many people might describe as “spiritual,” usually happen unexpectedly. They are likely to happen under many of the circumstances you mentioned. I’m an introvert, so the experiences I enjoy most are connecting with something beautiful, whether it’s nature or music or art. The best visual experiences are the ones where you see something with fresh eyes; or as if for the first time; or when your mind randomly decides to disconnect from meaning and just appreciates something for its aesthetic qualities of color, shape, pattern, scale, etc. These fleeting moments trigger the pleasure centers or can elicit a strong emotional response and it’s not always clear why.

As soon as the coffee hits.

Anywhere in the wilderness. The farther from civilization the better.

Some might say hiking, playing music, walking down a beach or some such, but, honestly, I have to refer to Don Henley “Don't you know that women are the only works of art.”

I am most alive when I am camping under a clear night sky and can see the stars. I ponder the universe and think of how small we really are, living about 6 feet from the ground of this minuscule planet twisting through the galaxy being dragged by a tiny fire ball at an astronomical speed!

When I am riding my horse. When I am sitting in my back yard, here on the farm. Before I retired, attending a birth, and holding the baby's head as it emerged from it's mommas. When I get in my car and head out on I 90, toward the west. When I am at the ocean. In a thunderstorm or a blizzard.

Always when I escape the sterility of civilised life and spend time in the wild places. Any country, any weather, any time there's always a feeling of wonder and a sense that I'm a living part of this planet.