Thanks to Diann Macrae, I found out that, of course, my 'Rattie' was a very common Bushy-Tailed Woodrat or Packrat, which certainly suits me and my personality.

Here's one description I can get behind : https://bisonquest.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/helping-a-bushy-tailed-woodrat-packrat-move-out/

Barb Deihl
Matthews Beach - NE Seattle
barbdeihl at comcast.net