When you hear the phrase: ‘dream job’, what is the first thought that comes to your mind? It’s a very personal question, one whose answer is, no doubt, based squarely on an individual’s dreams and passions. Having said that, we’d be willing to bet that almost everybody wouldn’t mind running a historic inn on an island, smack dab in the middle of the historic San Pablo Bay, just north of San Francisco.
Doesn’t sound like a bad gig, does it?
Believe it or not, this very opportunity has now become available to the general public. The island, which is known as the East Brother Light Station, is located just north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and operates as a small, boutique inn for tourists to enjoy year-round.
According to SFGate, the longtime operators of the island and inn, Che Rodgers and Jillian Meeker, are moving on to other opportunities this coming April, which means that East Brother Light Station will be in need of a new set of caretakers. A press release penned by the location’s not-for-profit provides potential applicants with a more holistic view of the daily tasks associated with the position. It states:
The successful candidates will be a couple, one of whom must possess a Coast Guard commercial boat operator’s license. They will operate the five-room inn, serving both dinner and breakfast, as well as providing ferry service for guests and all other tasks from chef to maid. High quality culinary experience and capability will be a critical qualification. The inn is open four days a week, and the island is also available for day use and special events. The new keepers will start in mid-April 2019, allowing two weeks for training.
Clearly, the listed qualifications are rather ‘niche’, but considering the job pays an estimated $130,000 (this figure can be a bit less or a bit more depending on the annual booking rates), we think the right candidates would jump at the incredible opportunity!
The lighthouse turned bed and breakfast was built all the way back in 1874 on a teeny-tiny 0.7-mile outpost in the San Pablo Bay. The lighthouse building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, has been managed and restored by the not-for-profit group, East Brother Light Station, Inc.
As mentioned, these days, the island operates mostly as a stunning bed and breakfast, but it is also routinely booked for events, like weddings, corporate parties, conferences, and more.
Heck, even if you don’t have the boating and cooking skills that would qualify you for the job, we think the island sure is worth a visit on its own. What an incredible piece of history!
We’d love to hear your take on this unique job opportunity. Would you drop everything to live and work on this island? Do you have the qualifications to get the job? What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever held?