Foreword / by Emily P. Freeman

Introduction: A note on staying put

Part I: Staying friends. The art of the goodbye party ; Bot-scootin' boogie ; Nothing like old friends ; Book club

Part II: Staying put. Sweat equity ; Stars hollow & sunsets ; On being the boss ; Obituaries ; Sally Field syndrome

Part III: Staying faithful. When staying true means leaving ; Sharing a pew & passing the peace ; Lowering the bar ; Be Ringo ; When staying true means leaving, redux

Part IV: Staying grounded. The front porch ; Namesakes ; Everybody writes about sisters ; A marriage story ; Life without children

Part V: Staying you. A woman's place is in the paint ; Hair is everything ; Sam Malone & a house with a pool ; A life lived with books ; The importance of being earnest

Epilogue: New York or nowhere.