But my question is: Is that all experience is? (I guess that's your question too)
See, that's my problem. I believe "experience" is more than what we can perceive with our senses. As long as an element acts upon your person it directly effects you. If it directly effects you (whether you know it or not) it becomes an experience (to me anyway). Time directly effects your person (alters physical characteristics), so that's why I believe we experience it.