Hi Dave,
You said " I don’t understand why I keep gravitating
to these areas. Could they be belief systems? Maybe
a physical or astral realm close to the Earth plane?
Could I be communicating with people who are alive
and dreaming?"
IMO what you suggest are very strong possibilities. Yet if these things happened to someone else there might be other causes because everyone's trips are ultimately personal and no one can 100% tell you for sure why these things happen to you.
They could also be outlying areas of Focus Level 27 where souls have grouped due to some slight variant in their beliefs. Or perhaps FL 26 or so due to their darkness.
Your overall question about why you are there is because that is where you will find answers/ insights that you need. It is for your own good because it is all for the good.

Neat, eh?
Are you by any chance a take-charge kind of guy who successfully solves problems and otherwise uses alot of mind power in his work?
If so, remember in these realms that your attitudes/ feelings are going to affect your explorations more than your will to be successful at this. Underlying the positive attitudes is the PUL that Bruce speaks of.
Curiousity is related to PUL since it shows interest in others ahead of oneself, so having some questions in mind for these others (rather than chasing them around

) might get you some new results.

Your experiences sound very worthwhile and on the right track!
Bets