Hi Sherry: I have been in this Genealogy thing for almost 35 years now. I have amassed numerous pictures, genealogy data, birth certs. wills, family stories and such. I came to the point as you did that I did not and would not spend all this time and effort and then have it thrown to the wind. Here is what I come up with. I tried about every genealogy program ever made and finally narrowed it down to just two. Family Tree Maker, because of all the research material they have, (I have about 50 of their CDs), and Family Origins by Parsons Technology. This is the one I use to preserve everything. I can put in it not only all my data but also put in pictures, stories, sources where I found all this stuff, medical records and such. Then with a click of the button, print it out in an 8 1/2 X 11 book, which I have a spiral book binder that I use on the Books. I make one for each main family name. I sell these at all the family reunions each year and people call and write long after ordering these. That way they are all over the country. Then I make 2 gedcom files. One I keep and one goes to my uncle's house at Indian Lake, Ohio. That way, If I have a crash (and I've had my share) I am covered. If my house burns down, I've got it covered. The copy at Indian Lake is OK. I too want to be remembered 100-200-300 years down the road. Hope this helps, Good luck on your search, "Preacher" Jack A. Rice (formerly lived at Naugatuck WV.)