Musicians: what's it like for you when you make music?

First, a little background about your typical music-making situation. Is it with others? Or by yourself? In front of an audience, or alone, just for yourself?

What is your relationship to your instrument? Have you come to treat it like it was a person, or do you treat it as a tool?

Now, when playing, what happens to you? Is it all a matter of perfecting your work, or do you get lost in the music you make? Do you have spiritual experiences? What are they like? What keeps you going over the years?