[ale] OT: gmail question

[lists at serioustechnology.com (Geoffrey Myers)]

So, can someone tell me the purpose of the 'All Mail' 'folder' in gmail? 
  I delete email and I dump spam, yet there are over 1200+ messages in 
the 'All Mail' folder.  Many are marked as deleted.

Does Google simply keep your email forever???

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

"I predict future happiness for America if they can prevent
the government from wasting the labors of the people under
the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson