In The Outsiders, how does Ponyboy describe family?

In the novel, The Outsiders, Ponyboy describes family as those who know you best.... the people who would do anything for you.

Or I could have gotten one of the gang to come along, one of the four boys Darry and Soda and I have grown up with and consider family. We're almost as close as brothers; when you grow up in a tight-knit neighborhood like ours you get to know each other real well.