I go to a nearby animal sanctuary, full of all sorts of wonderful LIVE farm animals, in a beautiful setting. They hold a vegan pot luck, which is very well attended. There is food a-plenty, with no dead critters to be found anywhere on the tables. My kind of feast !

Then everyone spends time visiting with the eager, friendly critters, who so appreciate the attention, and deserve their lives every bit as much as we do ... maybe more. I find the whole event highly peaceful and satisfying.

I'm also divorced and I understand. My mom and I go to Carol's Creek Cafe with two conservative neighbors. I won't go into specifics, but our previous Thanksgivings with my ex's family were so bad, we welcome people rambling on about how great Trump is. As long as nobody has to worry about whether or not we should call 911 b/c someone overdosed and is slumped in their food, it's a great day! Win!

Let me emphasize, the following is entirely my opinion, neither being advanced as more useful than others' responses, nor implying there being any right or wrong way for you to handle the situation. I think a great deal of the loneliness that can be felt when spending a holiday alone is entirely induced by the cultural and advertising pressure that society imposes. Ultimately, any day you choose can be a "Thanksgiving" and everything that enables one to be comfortable being alone on any random day is just as relevant and applicable on a holiday. Some of my favorite holiday memories have been being liberated of the pressures so often associated with holidays and being able to do entirely what I wanted. There is no choice that is wrong, as long as it is right for the individual. If you want to be with others, it shouldn't be difficult to find ways in which to do so, as many suggestions indicate. If you want to spend it alone, doing whatever you most enjoy, be in the moment and enjoy it, without comparing your experience to some bs tv image of what "Thanksgiving" is supposed to be.

I am glad I live in Australia and don't have to put up with Thanks Giving, Christmas is bad enough.

OK, first, that cake looks amazing and I have already found several recipes!

From my early adult years of working in hospital, where holidays are just a number on the schedule, I developed an appreciation for making conscious choices around holidays. My family was confounded over this and spewed much drama, which helped to clarify what was really going on in setting values for myself.

My BEST Thanksgiving memories are of gatherings with friends, strangers and neighbors, having fun with great food, drink, music and companionship! Through child-rearing years with my kids I reverted back to family gatherings, then things became rather fluid after divorce.

I have learned the value of not always disclosing the truth of my holiday plans, or the lack of plans, to family who super-impose their values and fears upon me. Their drama is unwelcome. I have learned that avoiding the family host's conservative christian and gun-cultured rantings is more healthful for me than seeing some relatives I do value. I have learned that enjoying a quiet and peaceful day, perhaps with the fun of cooking or baking for myself, can be a marvelous gift.

Round and round in the circle game, there will always be new options and variations, and I truly enjoy being at peace with my own choices.

I have volunteered with a local police dept. for a few years. So I will sign up to do a volunteer patrol shift. Another volunteer group makes dinner for the officers on duty. I can join the officers for a good meal and serve my community at the same time.

The upside down cake looks delicious I hope the potluck dinner goes well for you

For Thanksgiving this year, I will be going to the only restaurant that will be open near me, which is a Chinese food restaurant. I will get my vegetable fried rice and drink some tea and enjoy my afternoon. My youngest son is a fireman paramedic and he will be working, his wife and two girls will be going to a friends house because their home is presently being painted. My oldest son and I do not really have a relationship any longer due to his narcissistic wife so my option was to either go with my youngest sons wife to her friends or be by myself. I chose to be by myself.

@kiramea, @BestWithoutGods, @ToolGuy, @Jolanta, @BudFrank, @GreatNani, @tinkercreek, @BobbyZen, @GipsyOfNewSpain, @oldFloyd

Pear Upside-Down Gingerbread Cake

4 peeled small pears, cored and cut lengthwise into ¼ inch slices (about 1 pound)
2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup butter, softened
1 large egg
½ cup low-fat buttermilk
¼ cup molasses
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine pears, 1 tablespoon ginger and lemon juice. Coat a 9 x 2-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Arrange pears in bottom of pan in a circular pattern.
3. Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Beat in egg. Add buttermilk, molasses, and 1 tablespoon ginger; beat until well blended.
4. Lightly spoon flour in a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine next 6 ingredients (flour through nutmeg). Add flour mixture to batter; stir until well-blended.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool in pan 20 minutes on a wire rack. Place a plate sprinkled with powdered sugar upside down on top of cake pan; invert cake onto plate. Yield: 8 servings.

Calories: 244. From Cooking Light magazine.

Everyone is coming to my house. Early dinner so my daughter and son in law can go back and see his grandmother. Don't think his parents do much but they could come to my house if they wished. My ex also comes to my house. I don't mind him at all now that we are not married Sorry about the new girlfriend. She sounds odd. And maybe you can go with your daughter and son in law one year to his family.

I have not spent any of the holidays with my children since 2004; the ex is....the ex for a reason. I usually spend the holidays by myself, and trite though it may sound, I am not alone and it doesn't bother me. People often invite me over, but it feels forced, awkward. It is their gathering. I am used to it, and it does not bother me.

Enjoy your day.

It's just another day, unless one dwells negatively on not celebrating or on celebrating alone. Most of the world do not celebrate it.

I've been invited to thanksgiving dinner with the family of a friend, so I won't be alone on thanksgiving for the first time in 6 years. It will be a little strange: the hosts are very religious but not pushy, and it's the family of a close friend / non-girlfriend. So, I've had stranger experiences.

I'd go there just for your cake.

All kidding aside, I've been doing Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and my birthday either alone or with my youngest son for years. I was asked this year to Thanksgiving at my niece's house, but just the thought of being the only one there not high is, to put it bluntly, offensive to me.

So, Thursday I will be going to my local diner for their all you can eat Thanksgiving dinner, and spend the evening with my youngest son (by "spending the evening" I mean being in the same house. We're both introverts and he usually stays in the upstairs while I occupy the downstairs). For me, it's much better than dealing with obnoxious relatives who believes I should be doing more to have a life, or believes that I should be living a healthier life. Holidays is to relax, not to be stressed by people who want to tell you how to live.

Be thankful no one is around to bother or cause drama.

No matter where I am, or who I'm with, even if I'm alone, I always make sure to be grateful for what I have. Sometimes, I've even been grateful for what I didn't have.

Good for you. I wish I could be there to try the cake!

I hope you have fun. My holiday was going to be dinner with both my daughters at one of their places, but the one daughter has to work and I'm not hearing positive dinner plans. This means I will stay home and binge on Netflix while consuming 2 pizzas. The movie of choice is over 3 hours long and is called "The Irishman." Joe Peshi and DeNiro are in that one and it premiers the 28th.

I actually have a 4 day weekend as my boss told me just today he is cutting my hours again and I am also off Friday.

I cope with great joy at how much better it is than it would have been if I had stayed with my ex.

For the past several years we (my ex and son) have been having dinner at her house with me bringing the Turkey and some other sides. This year they are going to my ex brother-in-laws (long story, don't really want to get into it). This year I will probably stay at home and bake a pecan pie, something I haven't been able to eat for several years while I went through the whole dental implant ordeal. This time I will make it the way I like it, without regard to how anyone else feels. I am splitting up the Turkey and cooking part of it and freezing the rest. Then 9 hours of brainless watching of football. I'll clean up my mess as i go along so that Friday I can do anything I feel like.

The same as any other day off from work. I do enjoy visiting friends or family but it's not a big deal if I don't.

I enjoy the silence with my dogs.

I’m sorry you’re alone, but glad you found something. I will be with two daughters but the relationships have been strained somewhat. My ex will be there because she’s the girls’ mother. We get along ok but only for things relating to the kids. I’ll stay a few hours and excuse myself when I think it’s safe.

I’m making an apple pie. I’ll post pictures too. Your cake looks great!

I don't give it much importance, but that's me. Life set me alone for several birthdays, xmas and new year eves, and I just enjoyed myself doing what I like the most or just nothing. Thanksgiving is an American event...