That which two things are different? Dreaming of the past or dreaming of the future? I'd definitely agree they are similar, but I would consider the mindset in which you approach it to be entirely different. Dreaming of the past is to live in something that will never be; while dreaming of the future involves a possibility. A life where I never had kids is a completely different one than a life where I had kids, successfully raised them to adulthood, and they moved out and were independent.

My previous dreams of the past involved a lot of resentment for the present. But dreams and proper planning for the future necessarily involves accepting and making the best of the present.