Here at the News it takes a Cray supercomputer to keep track of everyone’s summer vacation schedules. We’re guessing a lot of small businesses around town have this problem. Most of you work super hard and can multitask almost as well as a single parent balancing a full-time job, college classes and child rearing — which pretty much describes the 2014 Kachemak Bay Campus graduating class, by the way. That doesn’t mean you can take on the extra duties of your awesome coworkers for more than a week.
Holy Rarotonga! If you want to sneak away for an exotic tropical vacation this time of year, you’re going to have to do some serious bargaining with your boss and coworkers.
This might be why some Alaskans just work straight through summer in jobs that allow them to get outside and enjoy our awesome state — you know, like commercial fishing. What’s so hard about that? Bait a few hooks, pull in some nets and the rest of the time you sit on the deck catching some sunshine.
OK, the Betster is joking. Yours truly fully understands that an outdoor summer job is just a lot of dang work. That’s what makes this state so awesome: we work hard, and when we’ve put in our hours, we play pretty hard, too. Enjoy your days off, even if your vacation is only a Saturday afternoon to enjoy this way-cool town, maybe with these Best Bets:

BEST THE MAP IS THE TERRITORY BET: Learn about what MAPP — that’s Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership — has been up to when it holds two community meetings this week. From 4-6 p.m. today is an open house on MAPP’s community assessment of issues like environmental, physical and mental health. From 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, join the discussion and help select a health priority. Both events are at Kachemak Bay Campus.

BEST GET EXPERIENCED BET: A people who have lived in Southcentral Alaska for 1,000 years have learned a thing or two about surviving Alaska. Many of us live in Dena’ina territory but don’t know much about that ancient culture. Learn more Friday when “Dena’inaq’ Huch’ulyeshi: the Dena’ina Way of Living” opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. at the Pratt Museum.

BEST TO THE MARKET BET: Over at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Greatland Street, a new outdoor market has opened, the Pioneer Market. It features local growers, artists, and crafts and trades people. The market runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday.

BEST SHINY STEEL BET: Check out some classic cars when the Antique Motor Mushers of Alaska present a Classic and Antique Car show from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday in the Wells Fargo parking lot.