Most people I know who gave up being a pilot, ignored QOL for "flying". It depends on your family situation for your decision, but if you have kids and a wife then you are making a mistake to not focus on QOL. If you are single, just move to ORD and don't look back.

PDX has E175 openings this month. People will be transferring back from ORD. It is a cycle. Go to ORD for 6 months, live in crashpad, transfer home and get paid while you wait for a line. Meanwhile,
fly observation flights, sit in on SIM training, and pick up as many trips as you can.

3 years from now, there will be (more than likely) a different junior base than ORD. You will upgrade to captain, live in a crashpad, transfer home after a few months and get paid while you wait for a line.