When I was growing up in Georgia, I always enjoyed Thanksgiving. But it wasn't until I moved to New England and began to celebrate the holiday at a sprawling Colonial home with massive fireplaces, bittersweet wreaths and snowy walks that I began to understand the feel of the holiday. The classic New England dishes suddenly made sense, though I would never celebrate without my mom's famous pecan pie.

I've been enjoying Thanksgiving at the same house for many years now, catching up with family and always meeting a new friend or welcoming a new member of the family. That's how I feel every year when I find myself in Seattle for Pacific Marine Expo. While the show is a whirlwind for many of us, I just love the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones, ogle the engines and find out what's new in gear.

The Expo closed on Friday after a bustling three days on the show floor, in conference sessions and after hours at a plethora of industry events. I've been to eight Expos, but none compares with this year. The Pacific Northwest and Alaska are absolutely booming with fishing, boatbuilding and outfitting. Check out our slideshow for images from the show floor.

On Wednesday, Brian Rothschild, president and CEO of the Center for Sustainable Fisheries, delivered a groundbreaking keynote address on reforming (rewriting) the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Thursday's Boatyard Day was thoroughly entertaining, beginning with roundups of the year's best fish boats and workboats and ending with a fantastic address on the future of West Coast boatbuilding by Frank Foti, president and CEO of Vigor Industrial.

Friday began for me with a three-hour Profitable Harvest conference that yielded critical information for growing your business in this changing industry. The show floor, meanwhile, swayed to the poetic stylings of the Fisher Poets, followed by the Fisherman of the Year contest. Reid Ten Kley took the top prize again this year.

We hope to see you again next year. Have a happy Thanksgiving!