Constant iCloud Dialogue Box Reminder isBecoming Annoying

Question

I'm a L-O-N-G time  Mac user, but have had myriad problems both getting my latest iMac up and running (due to hardware issues)  – and dealing with updated versions of familiar software that were not compatible with  the new OS  X version on my current Mac, so have not had time to explore iCloud. Also have a new iPad  mini still sittining the box  because I haven't had time even to set  it up.
Meanwhile, in the past week or so, I've suddenly been besieged with  reminders to do "something" with iCloud. Although I have a general idea of  the kinds of services iCloud offers, I 'm not sure I want to deal with it right now. In particular, I'm concerned about having to rely on documents stored "up here" if accessing them requires internet access, since our service from Time Waner is flaky to say the least. Monthly statements for  our service always arrive on time, but we never know when our  phone, TV or internet service will be on the blink.
For all of the above reasons, I would rather postpone dealing with iCloud for now (or at leatuntil I  get my ipad set up) , but am uncertain about how  to stop  the reminders without disabling iCloud completely (if that's possible). So far I have been able to locate iCloud in my system profile,  but can't tell if restarting it later will be  a problem.
So far I have not attempted to turn off  individual  features  because it requires  signing in — which rasies another problem:
In  my nearly  30 years as a Mac user, Apple has  used different formats for passwords (e.g., no specific format . . . specific number of  letters . . . combination of  upper and lowercase  letters . . .  inclusion of a single  cap or  numeral . . . mixed caps and numerals, etc.)  so  it seems like I'm constantly having to choose new passwords altogether in order to avoid conflicts with earlier versions of the same word.
I  learned years ago to keep updated passwords for different websites in a  notebook, but Apple apprently still has some of the old  names in its system, which means that I am constantly having to change even recently updated names.
Yes, I  know it's recommended that  passwords be changed regularly to avoid hacking, but I am running out of  creative new combinations for just the  dozen  or so sites I visit most regularly.
In short, is there any way to just stop  the iCloud reminders without having to change  the password I created just  4 days ago when I installed new software?

Answer 1

"When you sign out any data that is in that account will be removed from the Mac, but it will remain in your account in the cloud, so if you find it removes anything you didn't want it to, you can get it back by signing in again."
That's exactly what concerns me. Although I probably will appreciate  it once I have time to  play around with my new  iPad — or if  should suddenly   lose all the data on my Mac,  for now,  I have no interest in using the iCloud.
But your explanation hits precisely on my concern. If I understand it correctly, signing out will remove the date from my Mac , but leep it in iCloud. I don't understand why I casn't selectively remove  specific items from iCloud, but keep them  on the Mac.
Aldo, since the message I keep receiving seems to be limited to my email why "the system" keeps insisting that iCloud requires that I sign out.
Why is that necessary if I just want to keep the status quo without sending it off ot iCloud?