We are all aware that couples are not rushing into marriage at a young age—or even sometimes at a "middle" age—as was customary years ago. It is fairly common these days for couples to live together for years and even raise children together without availing themselves of the formal framework of marriage. As Joni Mitchell warbled years ago, they may feel, they "don't need a piece of paper from the City Hall, keeping us tied and true." The phenomenon of skipping marriage is well-accepted these days, so there is none of the old-fashioned "shame" to worry about, either.