Calling lighthouse lovers
An unusual job opening caught my eye in this weekend – I think I’ve mentioned before that as a child my ambition was to be a lighthouse keeper (probably an escape fantasy spawned by being part of a large, close-in-age family), so the idea of manning the historical East Brother Light Station in San Francisco Bay is certainly tempting:
East Brother Light Station
The lighthouses of my childhood imagination looked more like the Eddystone:
Eddystone Light - Engraving of 1829
- or the Fastnet Rock:
Fastnet Light - Photo Peter Cox
But in the real world, East Brother, with its Victorian details – scrollwork, gingerbread, porches and balconies – and only 10 minutes by boat from the shore – would be a much mellower choice. A much mellower climate too, with the Point Richmond area being one of San Francisco Bay’s banana belts.
East Brother Island via boatingsf.com
The 1874 light station is run by its preservation society as a bed and breakfast, so you don’t have to apply for the job in order to enjoy its romantic Victorian charm for a day:
Some of the bedrooms at East Brother Light Station
The dining room
The job opening (via San Francisco Chronicle Aug 28 2010 downloadable application here ) is for a couple to run the bed and breakfast, shop for all the supplies, ferry guests back and forth, keep the Fresnel light and foghorn working, and do all the paperwork for the business. A Coastguard Captain’s license is required, as well as the hospitality and gourmet cooking skills to cater for the guests. A tall order indeed! Perhaps life on the Eddystone would actually be easier?
Wouldn’t that be fun? Then I could come and visit you
Wow, I love light houses. There is just something about them. I don’t know that I would care to live in one, although the thought of being there on rainy weekends with a big stack of books I want to read has always had its appeal. Maybe my wife and I should apply for the job in San Francisco!