New Year's Resolution - Be a Lighthouse Keeper

Are you thinking about your goals for this year? Why not add “Be a Lighthouse Keeper” to your list?

You probably think this is an impossible, unrealistic goal. You would need to be trained, move to another place, leave your current job. But that’s not the case. You can be a lighthouse keeper for a few days.

Several lighthouses in the United States offer a keeper’s program in which they allow people to be honorary lighthouse keepers and live in the keeper’s quarters for a short time.

Too much work, you say? If you know anything about the duties of lighthouse keepers in the past, you realize it was a tremendous amount of physical labor. However, these days all active lighthouses are automated, so there’s no climbing the stairs with oil to light the wicks.

The duties of honorary keepers are more like hosts or visitor guides. Since these lighthouses are open to the public, the keeper must greet and sometimes go by boat to pick up visitors. Like a docent, the keeper tells the visitors about the lighthouse and its history.

Other responsibilities include basic housekeeping, like keeping the quarters clean and the lawn mowed. Some lighthouses have gift shops where the keeper would work.

Unlike former lightkeepers, there is no salary for the opportunity, but a small fee. Sound like something you’d like to do? If so, here are some of the lighthouses that have keepers’ programs.

Rose Island Lighthouse, Newport, RI – www.RoseIslandLighthouse.org