'Our friends and family think we're crazy': Couple explains why they left behind their software consultant jobs to spend summer running a LIGHTHOUSE 

  • A North Carolina duo has spent the summer running a lighthouse in Maine 
  • Mitchell Thorp and Patty Sullivan moved to Sequin Island in May this year 
  • The couple has spent the past few months as caretakers of the lighthouse 
  • 'Our friends and family think we're crazy,' Mitchell Thorp said of the role 

A North Carolina couple who worked from home for 15 years have left it all behind to man a lighthouse on a tiny island in Maine.

Mitchell Thorp and Patty Sullivan have taken on the challenge of being caretakers at the Sequin Island Light Station, meaning they in charge of upkeep, cleaning, and taking visitors on tours of the island and its attraction.

Life on the island is very different for Thorp and Sullivan, who sold their accountant software consultancy business that they ran for more than 15 years in 2012, but the couple said they don't mind the 'slower pace'.

North Carolina couple Mitchell Thorp and Patty Sullivan have left behind their home business of  15 years to man a lighthouse on a tiny island in Maine

North Carolina couple Mitchell Thorp and Patty Sullivan have left behind their home business of 15 years to man a lighthouse on a tiny island in Maine

Thorp and Sullivan have taken on the challenge of being caretakers at the Sequin Island Light Station (pictured)

Thorp and Sullivan have taken on the challenge of being caretakers at the Sequin Island Light Station (pictured)

'It's nice to pull back into the cove and, peace,' Sullivan told ABC News.

Thorp added it was an easy decision to walk away from the software business and get into the outdoors, but said people still had their doubts about the lighthouse adventure.

'Our friends and family think we're crazy,' he said.

'But sitting at a desk looking at a computer all day was not hard to walk away from at all.'

'It's nice to pull back into the cove and, peace,' Sullivan (pictured) said about life at the lighthouse

'It's nice to pull back into the cove and, peace,' Sullivan (pictured) said about life at the lighthouse

The lighthouse is on a small island (pictured) that is a 30-minute boat ride from the nearest town

The lighthouse is on a small island (pictured) that is a 30-minute boat ride from the nearest town

'Our friends and family think we're crazy,' Thorp said about the caretaker role. 'But sitting at a desk looking at a computer all day was not hard to walk away from at all'

'Our friends and family think we're crazy,' Thorp said about the caretaker role. 'But sitting at a desk looking at a computer all day was not hard to walk away from at all'

The couple started their stint at the lighthouse in May, after moving to the isolated 64-acre island of the coast of Maine.

Sequin Island Light Station is the tallest and second oldest of its kind in the state, and the caretaker program is run by the non-profit group, Friends of Seguin Island Light Station.

Thorp and Sullivan applied for the summer stint after seeing an ad on social media, and after a short Skype interview, they had the job. 

During their time on the island, they have written blogs detailing their day-to-day activities and also some of the standout moments of the summer.

The couple started their stint at the lighthouse in May, after moving to the isolated 64-acre island of the coast of Maine

The couple started their stint at the lighthouse in May, after moving to the isolated 64-acre island of the coast of Maine

Sequin Island Light Station is the tallest and second oldest of its kind in the state, and the caretaker program is ran by the non-profit group, Friends of Seguin Island Light Station

Sequin Island Light Station is the tallest and second oldest of its kind in the state, and the caretaker program is ran by the non-profit group, Friends of Seguin Island Light Station

They wrote about the first time they arrived on the island, the weekly 30-minute boat rides to town for groceries and to do laundry, and even ghost stories about potential paranormal activity.

But all the quirks and conditions have helped Thorp and Sullivan shine a light on what really matters in life, and to get away from the hustle and bustle of a normal work day.

'You have to push the Type-A away because in the business world, you need to be that way, but in the real world, outside of business, it's not healthy to be that way all the time,' he said.