What goes through your mind while viewing a target?

This may seem like another stupid question from a newbie, and I know
I'm trying the patience of those more experienced posters, but this
question is genuine and not intended to offend...

When I'm viewing a target, particularly those that are "merely"
pinpoints of light, after I'm impressed by the visual beauty of, for
example, a globular cluster, that's about where the level of my
appreciation ends...I'm looking through the eyepiece with nothing
running through my mind; drool dripping from my chin would not be out
of place. I'd like to know what YOU are thinking/seeing while viewing
these pinpoints of light.

Are your thoughts equipment oriented? E.g., "Wow, this Plossl is
better than that ortho."

Are they historically oriented? E.g., "The ancients thought Merope is
less bright because she married a mere mortal."

Are they astrophysics oriented? E.g., "That cluster is xxx million
light years away and x light years across."

And so on...

I know the answer, I think, to this intellectual vacuum I'm
experiencing...study more! Yes, and on those occasions when I've
preplanned a viewing session of a target and researched its critical
elements, the viewing has been much more enjoyable. (The Autostar's
little blurbs on my LX90 are very helpful but usually too brief...I
want more...it would be nice if someone were standing next to me
pointing out interesting facts about the target.) But with the number
of potential targets out there, I'm looking at a pretty daunting task,
i.e., writing what amounts to an essay before viewing each target. Is
specialization the answer?

I'm beginning to think that amateur astronomy is a lot like developing
an appreciation of classical music and fine art. That is, it's
helpful to have someone point out what to listen to or look at. It
also is beginning to dawn on me that years of INTELLIGENTLY viewing
the heavens apparently signficantly enriches the experience.
Unfortunately, I'm still at the kindergarten level.

Chris B. in another thread did a great job of describing his moon
viewing experience and helped me a lot. I guess I just lack
imagination due to a dearth of knowledge on my part. Hopefully, with
more study those points of light will trigger an intellectual
experience in addition to a visual thrill.

But I guess my original question(s) stand. That is, are your viewing
experiences mainly oriented toward equipment, the visual experience,
historical perspective, etc. or what?