Fresh,

Lots of good advice on here. The short version: I know you need total time, but the most important time you need is time in the left seat of something. It's certainly worth putting your resume in...can't quit a job you don't have but I would focus much more on getting upgraded to aircraft commander and then to an IP. Unless the regional you're considering is hemorrhaging people such that your upgrade will happen faster there vs your guard unit, I would focus on the quickest upgrade. Time in the right seat at a regional won't hurt you but it probably won't help a ton. If you were already an AC then yes, it might help that you have some part 121 stink on you. Personally don't think it's necessary to do that but some people do. Don't get too caught up in the current hiring trends and how many apps are on file, etc. Those same apps are most likely in at every airline, the pool of super qualified guys will continue to diminish, etc.

If you were single, it would make the decision much easier, so I would take a single guy's take with a grain of salt. The biggest variable that doesn't sound like it exists for you yet is children. If/When you start to have them, the double commute with a working spouse is almost impossible. Eventually someone will suffer and things will have to change. Are there families that make it work? Probably, but from first hand experience, it's tough and regardless of what the spouse might say, you will most likely miss your kids a lot and you can't get that time back. That's just my perspective and for now you said you don't have kids so this is a non issue. Good luck with whatever you decide. PM with any questions you might not want to ask on a public forum.