Fixed Dock and Menu in full screen

Coming over from windows to Mac. Like lion so far except the hiding dock and menu for full screen. This would be better behavior for a tablet but not a PC. The sit down and get work done computer, I prefer to multitask at high speeds without interruptions.
This hiding menus and docks is like loading groceries into an unleveled refrigerator. The door keeps closing on you as you are trying to put food in.
You end up dropping the eggs.
The menu and docks keep closing as you are trying to do some work that requires switching between apps frequently.

 

In Lion, you don't have that option in system preferences.
Full screen or maximized so I don't have to see all the other windows open on the computer. I have been trying to get use to not full screen because of this dock issue.

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I am aware of the keyboard commands. I had been using a thinkpad keyboard with accupoint mouse my entire life and using it on the mac. So I am use to freely using the mouse just a fast as typing.
I have been looking for a 3rd party app that would fix this hiding docking issue. Haven't had any luck yet.