Where am I supposed to store my stuff?

Richard Setterberg wrote:

I am aware that in the new OS operating systems, you can no longer add folders to the main drive. On all my existing computers running new OSs, I must have been grandfathered in to allow folders like "Professional" and "Personal" and "Business".

Now I can't. I have a new computer running Monterey with no place to put my stuff. Where do people put it if you can't add it to "Macintosh HD" any more?

Your user folder is where you can store all your stuff—

See it in the sidebar (?) of the Finder.

ref: About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple ...

About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple Support

Get to know the Finder on your Mac

Get to know the Finder on your Mac - Apple Support

See and organize your files in the Finder on Mac - Apple ...

Organize your files in the Finder on Mac - Apple Support

You need to put your stuff under your Users which has Library and other folders.

The System folder is in a sealed and signed volume which is Read Only volume

from:

https://eclecticlight.co/2021/12/16/boot-disk-layout-in-macos-monterey/

Richard Setterberg wrote:

All that said, a single click of the finder icon in the dock is good enough for me. I just have to train myself to do it.

I don't think I have ever clicked on the Finder icon in the Dock...

Command N will open the default Finder that you have set in Finder>Preferences>General

in the drop down menu you can see the whole list of shortcuts to easily access your files:

you can drag any folder on (or off holding the command key) to the Finder sidebar for direct access

Richard Setterberg wrote:

I am aware that in the new OS operating systems, you can no longer add folders to the main drive.

Not sure where you got that idea. It's completely false.

Now I can't. I have a new computer running Monterey with no place to put my stuff. Where do people put it if you can't add it to "Macintosh HD" any more?

You should store data inside your home directory. Macintosh HD/users/yourusername.

Richard Setterberg wrote:

It is not "completely false". Unless you know of a workaround, I cannot add a folder to the level of the drive that contains apps, system, library etc. I was hoping for something as simple as it used to be, but the best I can think of is adding an alias of my home folder to my desktop.

You don't want to do that. You should be adding it to your user home directory.

Storing data directly off the root of the drive is a very bad idea, regardless of what OS you're running.

Double clicking gets me to all my files and folders without having to dig down or opening a window just to access it.

I have had my Finder preferences set to open my home folder when I open a new Finder window. I think you can pick whatever folder makes you happiest.

Then, I have my favorites in the sidebar set to a few strategic locations that “spring open” when I hover over them to drop files into the desired location, quickly.

You might consider learning about the features that have existed in Finder since around AD 2000 when OS X was first released. I haven’t stored files outside my home since OS 9.