We are defined by our passions. Many people do see it as a sort of way to escape the "real world". When I first started out, toiling away in my room engulfed in the recording of my latest song, my dad used to tell me that it wasn't part of the real world, and I needed to pursue a career like working in a factory, or some other blue collar job. Of course, once he heard what i was doing, and how good it actually was he changed his mind.
It's always been a dream of mine to pursue a musical career, (and I'm not talking about the kind that makes you famous)it's what I'm passionate about. As far as I'm concerned if you stop dreaming you start dying...