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When you were an altar boy, had the Eucharist been well explained to you? And what do you think of It now? While your faith you've been with for 35 years has given you a relationship with Christ that has made a real difference, Catholicism provides the Eucharist, and there's nothing better than spending time with a friend in person -- it makes a "Real" difference.
1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." --Catechism of the Catholic Church
I would bet the farm that if you had served at the Masses (and joined them in a Rosary or two following) that Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her good friend Fr. John A. Hardon (Mother Teresa of Calcutta, herself, suggested my husband read Fr. Hardon's writings regarding the Catholic Church; you can too.:)) attended, that you would not only still be Catholic, you would understand what's "missing" in your current church/faith. (I can't say enough about the saints and blesseds. They lead people to the full understanding of the Eucharistic Lord.)

Dear mlizzy - Like you, I was taught that the Eucharist is the real presence, the real flesh and blood of Jesus. I recall that great lengths were taken to ensure that no particle of the sanctified bread or wine was ever dropped or contaminated in any way. I can understand and appreciate Roman Catholic theology based on Jesus saying, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you"; and "Take and eat; this is my body..". My understanding of scripture and my experience tells me that spiritual life in Christ comes through His Word and Holy Spirit indwelling the believer but not through ingesting corruptible elements. I don't say this to offend you. I'm simply answering your question. I believe Jesus fully explains to His confused disciples what He meant by 'eating His body and drinking His blood'. He does this in John 6:63 when he says, "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." This is the conclusion of the matter for me. Having said this, know that I do not take receiving communion lightly. Communion is the recognition and remembrance of Christ'ss broken and bloodied body - given for me and for my salvation. In communion, I vicariously recall the exchange of my life for His. Let me ask you something. What does receiving the Eucharist do for you that's different from what the Holy Spirit does in and through the believer?

Disclaimer: I am not impressed with piety. I don't care too much for religious objects. I am impressed with power that has the ability to change a life. I am impressed with Christ, the hope of glory, in the believer. My faith is not in the church. I don't look to the church to affirm or confirm my faith in Christ. My faith is in Jesus the Anointed One. He is my Savior, the Messiah, the soon coming King of Kings. My relationship with Christ needs no priest or pastor. Jesus is my high priest.

I have no problem believing that God has the power to make Jesus physically present in Communion. However, I'm not convinced by the Word or the Holy Spirit in me - that He does. I believe that Jesus explains to His confused disciples the deeper meaning of His unpalatable statement "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you..." , when he concludes His John 6 discourse with this statement: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). Regarding the early church fathers. They were not unanimous on many subjects including the real presence. In John 6, Christ taught that eternal life is through believing in Him, not through eating His flesh.

I have a question for you. Experientially, what does Communion do for you beyond what the Word and the Holy Spiritis doing in you? I.e., How does Communion make a difference in your life beyond what the the Word and the Holy Spirit are currently doing in you?