Hi, KT and welcome to the group. We can always use applause from the sidelines.

If I had wisdom to share, I probably wouldn't need to be in this thread. But, for what it's worth, I've come to believe that clutter is a natural by-product of a busy, productive life. The only way to really avoid clutter is to do nothing.

I've decided that my goal is simply to manage it. If the house looks reasonably neat, and the health department doesn't need to condemn the kitchen, that's good enough for me. As long as I can find what I'm looking for when I need it, I'm satisfied.

Maryanne