this does not actually help you if you are stuck with using chrome. but in opera, if i want to keep tab history i'll duplicate a tab (from the right click menu

this does not actually help you if you are stuck with using chrome. but in opera, if i want to keep tab history i'll duplicate a tab (from the right click menu) and then hit my link in the new tab. the duplicated tab remembers the history of the original tab. perhaps chrome has some similar capabilities? this plus the "undo" of control-z to reopen recently closed tabs (which retain their history) makes my forgetful life far easier.