The Lure of Lighthouses

People Love Them - I Do, Too

People love lighthouses. The United States is home to more lighthouses than any other country. With more than 115 lighthouses along the Great Lakes alone, Michigan boasts the most lighthouses of any U.S. state.

I would LOVE to live in a lighthouse. Robert and I would have been great lighthouse keepers —-the perfect retirement job for us. We are naturally private people and we value our autonomy. I’m perfectly content writing and working online every day. He’s an Astrologer and does readings for people all over the world, but even that is totally through programs online.

From what I’ve read, most of the posts were four weeks on, two weeks off, the salary paid by the Federal Government ($47,000/year). No one would ever get rich on that, but it would have been perfect for a couple in retirement.

No lawncare to worry about
No property taxes or mortgage payment
I’m guessing, but probably not responsible for home insurance

However, with the advent of automation, the job of a traditional lighthouse keeper slowly became unnecessary, a thing of the past.

Today, all lighthouses in the U.S. are automated, with the exception of the Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse in the U.S. (1716), in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve also wondered what living quarters might look like inside a lighthouse. Some were obviously too small for anything more than storing necessary equipment for running the lighthouse and the light. But other lighthouses were much larger and very appealing.

The living quarters are small, or roomy, depending on the size of the lighthouse, but all seem quaint and something I could get used to. I hope you enjoy seeing the photos as much as I do.

Something interesting: I’ve read that all lighthouses are haunted, some by pirates! That’s intriguing and it only makes me love them more.

“Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum … ARGHH.”