Have you ever looked for something without knowing what you're looking for?

Probably.

But what I'm doing goes a step further. Have you ever looked for something without knowing what you're looking for but looked as if you were actually going to find it?

I am not being abstract in any way. Today I wandered in a very physical way (as in I just walked around for a solid half hour) just looking. I knew I was looking for something and that when I found it I would know that I had found it.

I searched for it the way you'd look for a lost puppy or earring, as if there would be some material object waiting for me at the end of my search.

I never found it.

I don't know what I'm looking for, but I'm treating it like its here.