[jstanley]

> When I run ls I don't want to see all the configuration files. Just my files.

Well then configuration files can simply not be in the same directory as your files. Easy fix.

[SAI_Peregrinus]

Your user doesn't have permissions to write to any directory that isn't yours. It doesn't mean configs have to be in your "documents" directory, but they do have to be in with your files!

[jstanley]

The comment I was responding to was talking about the utility of files being hidden.

But they don't need to be hidden by being special, they can just be "hidden" by living in a subdirectory that you don't look inside.