Memory Lane - Best way to preserve digital memories?

No, I don't mean the computer though in some ways, that is part of it and I don't mean my mind though, that too is part of it.
I'm 45 years old and I'm just coming to terms with the idea that everything in our life is becoming digitalized. I just don't care for the idea too much.

I remember cameras, photo albums, scrapbooks, records, cassettes, cd's in a far better light than I will ever truly see digital versions of those things. I remember loads of paper everywhere which was often kept in folders, envelopes and files often kept in a filing cabinet or baskets designed for it. Many of those things still exist but you see them less and less everyday.

I'm familiar with the digital stuff too. Mp3 are still one of my favorite things because I don't have to carry something bulky with me out on walks just to listen to music. I graduated just after the whole "Let's turn in those bulky phones for smaller ones"; "Let's get rid of cd players and replace them with mp3's" Just a couple of years after that, games systems began to become complex, computers began to get simpler to use but harder to understand when things go wrong. etc etc etc

Time fades but the world grows and becomes more complex. Those lucky enough to have been born into this time have no clue why those who are older struggle with it. I shouldn't really be struggling at all but I am. I stopped digging into the new stuff. I stopped trying to figure the computer out. I stopped trying to work on programs and I didn't pay attention when those games systems became more complex. I didn't ask questions or seek out help when Windows kept changing. Tv's became smart and the graphics so much better. I could make a very long list of the things that changed and keep changing but then I'll go completely off-topic so I won't.

Point? When it comes to me getting my stuff organized, I had to pause so I could see all the options available to me. I had to note the pros and cons to each one and I got frustrated because the answers found were either very slight or very expensive. Not a single one with a long-life-expectancy. (makes me to wish I would have stuck to photo albums and filing cabinets - but over time and all the moving, I still lost a ton of those things and none can be replaced)

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With the use of google, several links became available and each one slightly different than the one before or even after it. The one I chose is from Limewire which spoke of photo storage options. (but the choices meant using it for much more than that)

1. EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES (my personal favorite for music and movies - mostly because I have so much music)
One with a fan is recommended. I didn't get one with a fan, I took the least pricey route but mostly because I prefer small over the bulkier variety that not only has a fan but takes up so much space on a desk. They have small ones out there with fans but the price is more than I wanted to pay considering how often I tend to replace them.
2. SOLID-STATE DRIVES (SSDS)
Way too expensive. Maybe in a couple of years or more, I'll consider it. (of course, if I update my desktop to something from 2019-2020, odds are good one will be in it anyway or at least offered for a couple of hundred more) Also way too small for the cost.
3. SECURE DIGITAL (SD) CARDS
I actually forgot about these though I own several. The pros and cons they listed seem false to me considering all of mine are very old but all are still good. Too small for me to bother with in any case.
4. OPTICAL STORAGE: DVDS AND CDS
I was rather surprised to see this one listed. Most computers, desktop's included, are no longer coming with a drive that reads them. I used to use them for storage but learned the hard way, just how easy it is for them to be corrupt or get damaged so I stopped using them for storage. Work fine for other things though.(as long as you have a drive anyway)
5. CLOUD STORAGE
You must have internet so meh, not bothering. Besides, you can't store certain things like personal stuff w/o the possibility of someone gaining access to those things. No matter how much security they might have, nothing is safe if it's on the internet. At any rate, I'd need to much storage and that costs way too much. Perhaps later in life when the other options are simply not available. (or never)
6. USB FLASH DRIVES
Wonderfully handy. Cheap too even for the nicer ones. Some of mine are old but still work really well. No issues. Out of the cons they listed, I don't agree with the easily damaged part. I've dropped mine in water puddles and the toilet once and after a couple of months of not touching it so it could dry out naturally, it still worked and the data on it was still good. *shrugs* Either I got lucky or they are more durable than people think. Just be smart with them boys and girls and they will last longer than most expect them to. (that even applies to the cheap ones or ones you can get for less than pennies on the dollar - take care of it and it'll take care of you.)

1 and 6 are what I chose to use. Yes, I'll have to replace the external in 3-5 years and I'll eventually have to replace those flash drives as well. (some sooner than others I bet)

Remember this: "None of these options will last you a lifetime." The year they come out with something that does, won't matter in my lifetime. (will it matter in yours? who knows) Just change out those options you choose with newer products every 3-5 years and take care of what you have and you should be just fine. Make a backup of all those things you're trying to save somewhere else as a 'better safe than sorry' kind of thing.

If you're like me and go through hard drives. Don't use your hard drive in your computer as that extra backup because odds are good it won't outlast one of the things noted above, you might lose it all around the same time. *shrugs*

If you're not like me, keep a copy of those things on your hard drive and use a backup method listed above.

I still haven't figured out what I'll use as a backup to that storage drive. I've considered maybe adding another drive to the pc but after talking to my boyfriend, I'm unsure of even doing that. I can save the photos to a brand new Facebook and just keep tabs on it to make sure nothing disappears. (or maybe save the pics minus the inappropriate ones to google) I'll figure it out eventually. Just not sure what is best. The music, technically can be replaced, the pics can't be.

Feel free to offer advice or your own opinion on this topic.