With all this wandering to and fro, it’s rare for we Americans to actually live in the same town as our family. When the holidays roll around and we don’t have the air miles to fly home — wherever the heck that might be — what can you do?

Well, you make your own family. You and your spousal unit cook up a big bird (tofutti or otherwise), invite some friends over, maybe ask that hitchhiker you picked up on the Spit last week to drop in, and there you have it: instant family. I’ll bring the cranberry orange relish. You bring the candied yams.

For those blessed to have genuine, flesh-and-blood family near by, hey, that’s gravy. Every family’s bound to have a hole, though: a loved one lost, a brother or sister overseas, maybe someone estranged and who has not yet found the way home. We fill those holes with new friends and new relatives, and we carry on.

So as you sit down today with families born into or spontaneously created, give thanks not just for the bounty of the earth, but for the bounty of the heart. The love of others gets us through the dark days and the long winters. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving’s all about?

After you’ve recovered from the feast, hey, why not consider some of these Best Bets?

BEST RED SOCKS BET: No, we’re not talking about the best baseball team ever, but those old woolies Santa stuffs goodies into. If you’re one of Santa’s secret helpers, you’ll need to help him get ahead on his stocking stuffing. Swing by from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Pratt Museum, and visit with The Man in Red himself, help build gingerbread houses, decorate cookies and do all sorts of fun holiday stuff.

BEST SKATING ON THICK ICE BET: Ah, it’s a skater’s heaven. No need to brave Beluga Lake. No need to shovel snow. At Homer’s Ice Arena, it’s solid, smooth ice. If you haven’t check out the arena yet, go to the public skate from 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

BEST JUST LIKE IN SPACE BET: If we ever live in space, this is how we’ll grow plants: hydroponically, space cadets. Learn how it’s done at 2 p.m. Sunday when Dennis Anderson speaks at the monthly meeting of the Homer Garden Club.

BEST THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND BET: Not every open lot around town will be undeveloped forever, but thanks to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, a lot of it will. Meet the board members and staff of KHLT at its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Pratt Museum.