An unexpected—and surprisingly positive— exploration of the benefits awaiting married baby boomers in their “bonus” years from the New York Times–bestselling author of Intimate Partners. In September Songs, journalist and author Maggie Scarf finds that marriage has undergone some fascinating changes since she wrote her bestselling Intimate Partners. Over the course of the twentieth century, thirty years of life have been added to normal human life expectancy—what the author calls “the bonus years.” This means that couples will often live together for years after their children have left home, and perhaps well past retirement. This extra time is bringing change to our long-term relationships, especially marriage.