I have been writing songs for over 30 years with a break of nearly 20 years to bring up 2 daughters. I think the break has helped me maintain a fresh approach and I get great satisfaction from the creative process. As any songwriter knows a song is at it's most powerful during it's inception and development. Once it is finished it becomes an old friend. Writing a new song is like finding a new love, fresh and exciting, but we are forever married to our old songs which we view with affection and nostalgia for past memories and lost times.
Some songs, like Seagulls are written on the fly and may never be played again because they are as good as they are ever going to be, warts and all.