Thank the Lord - - - no one has posted!!!
After I posted the above I went out to snowblow to do another 4" of snow (will it ever end?).
When I came back in my wife was on the phone - so of course I could not go on-line. Instead I started to review my questions to you all.
(God, this is like going to confession!!!)
I found some answers - - -
On my 9.1 desktop my VIEW menu options explain that I should go to 'preferences' so I did.
It was there that I saw "3" sizes of Icons to choose from and also a "tighter grid" selection.
I chose to go with the 'buttons' for the first time because they present a more neutral surround when exhibited against the blue happy-face wallpaper.
My only last remaining question is: 'can I do a default lock on the 120% screen zoom?
My wife passed off this saying which I am considering in putting up as my TS signature - - -
"Use it up, wear it out; make it do, or do without." ( I think this is an old German proverb, but I'm a living example being surrounded with all my older Mac stuff).
Mike