I have seen some people asking the similar kind of question. First, I would like to answer your question.　According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_j%C5%8Dy%C5%8D_kanji ), the number of Joyo kanji (kanjis used commonly between Japanese people) is approx 2100. And I agree that it is not easy to remember them especially for foreign people. But I would like you to know one thing. They know those kanjis because not only they grew up in Japanese speaking coutry but also they study kanjis so hard when they were at elementary school or junior high school. They have to take kanji quiz and homework like everyday. They study kanji really really hard, otherwise they cannot even go to junior/high school/university. Maybe it is just like vocabulary or spelling for English speaking students. Anyway, if you could determine to study kanji like Japanese students do, I am sure you can get great kanji vocabulary, but if not, it may be difficult. Maybe there are good methods to remember them, but I personally think there is no such a shortcut. I don't know if I answered your question well, but this is my opinion!

Here is another good news for you. Although students in Japan learn about 2000+ kanji to read and understand, we can't necessarily write all of them accurately. We look up dictionaries from time to time.

Yeah I know hiragana like the back of my hand. Still having some difficulties with katakana. But overall I have a good grasp of the basics.

Lol, get used to it. Have you learnt all hiragana btw?