It must depend on the person, how memories weigh. I watched a man who was basically my adoptive grandfather go through chemo and die of cancer in a hospital bed set up in our living room, but the memories of all our beach and forest excursions are much more prominent to me now, and its a bittersweet memory to me to think of the old westerns we watched (his favorite genre) when he was stuck in bed.

I guess I would try to figure out, based on the people around me, how I could make them happiest long term (which I think is the same thing you're saying)