Pen Tool newbie has some questions

I put off learning how to control the Pen Tool far too long, but recently, I dug in & spent about 4 hours getting the hang of it. After about an hour, I had the basics, so I decided to practice on a complex outline. I spent several hours outlining a very intricate object with great precision. The tool was set on Path. What I did not realize is the Path I was creating was not being saved when I saved my work. It completely disappeared when I closed the file, much to my dismay. So obviously, I missed something in the instructions. Here are my questions:
1. How should I have saved my Path?
2. My goal was to complete a complex outline & use it for a mask or selection to remove the background - to extricate a complex object from a complex background. Was Path the best setting for this goal? What if I had used Shape, or Pixel Fill?
I really loved the control the tool gave me, like a digital Exacto knife, but would appreciate some suggestions to help further my exploration of the Pen Tool.

"I dug in & spent about 4 hours getting the hang of it."
That should be enough, for one day that is. Keep with it. Use it often over the next few years. Take on jobs that need paths. You will find the pen tool to be one of Photoshop's most valuable tools.
Best,
Ken

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