As summer's coming to a close, so are the outdoor pools in the Town of Tonawanda. While most view their summer job as a burden that keeps them away from the sun and their friends, being a town lifeguard is a bit different. We're lathering on the sunscreen to keep from getting burned, spending every waking moment with some of our best friends, and getting paid while doing it. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider becoming a Town of Tonawanda lifeguard.

1. You get to come home to a second family for the summer. With much of the staff being college students, we of course all look forward to coming home to our high school friends, our families, but we especially look forward to coming home to our work friends. Our lifeguard friends- that is. With much of everyone's time being spent in the summer working, it couldn't be more fun to be able to work with all of your best friends. Plus if you're local to the town, you can work at the indoor Aquatic and Fitness Center all year round!

2. Pool dinners. At the close of the summer, every pool has its own pool dinner. Here you can reminisce on all of the craziness that happened throughout the year with all of the guards from your pool. And if you're daring enough- you can crash the other pool dinners as well. Good food, good company, and paper plate awards, it's the perfect way to close out the summer.

3. Summer lovin'. 9/10 town lifeguards have been in some sort of relationship with another town lifeguard. Some just end up being summer flings, some end up getting pretty serious. Some of the most golden of couples even end up growing old together...

4. The patrons. Getting to know the regulars at each pool is always entertaining. Whether it's mint man, tan santa, Janet, or everyone's favorite Kathy, the regulars are sure to keep things interesting. From purchasing a box of donuts for the morning staff or a pizza for the night staff, our patrons keep us going.

5. Rain days. Did I hear thunder? Looks like the pool is closed for at least thirty minutes. That means card games, prank calls from pool to pool, and bonding time for the staff at each outdoor facility. Everyone loves a rainy day as a lifeguard!

6. Lifeguard tan-lines. Ladies those one piece tan-lines and fellas those guard short tan-lines... who can resist?

7. The flexible work schedule. Everyone's busy nowadays, especially during the summer. The great thing about working as a town guard is that there are about 60 other people that can possibly work for you if you ever need off! Switching shifts is not uncommon within the town and it makes for a very convenient summer for all.

8. Christmas in July. July 25 is a day that each and every pool looks forward to all summer. With holiday tunes blasted throughout the facilities as well as santa hats and red and white worn by all (as usual), July 25 is just another reason us lifeguards look forward to working everyday.

9. Fanny Packs. Come on, you have an excuse to wear a fanny pack- and you get to look good doing it.

And to bring this article to a close, here's a quote from one of our favorite pool supervisors Sarah Pray, "Family, not the first word that comes to mind when people think of their local lifeguards. Most people picture what they have seen in movies- the Wendy Peffercorns or the Baywatch bombshells. 'Family,' how can this word come to have any relation to 'lifeguard'? Throughout each summer we become each others friends, support systems, teammates, and playmates. Here in the Town of Tonawanda, we treat each other as if we're family."

Apply to be a Town of Tonawanda lifeguard today!