Thanks to the excellent suggestion of my friend Aaron Dragushan at  upgrademe.org, here is the clearly delineated clean zone on my desk.

Basic concept is nothing but what you are actively working on goes in the DFZ: the Distraction Free Zone. (that's my name for it, not Aaron's.  Send your mental groans my way.)

I took the liberty of allowing my keyboard to live in there as 99% of what I do involves that. Plus I can move it out of there if I need to.

Read more here at Aaron's blog.
http://www.upgrademe.org/blog/happiness-with-a-messy-desk/