I count "living in base" as being able to comfortably sit reserve at home (ie unwashed and unshaven), and able to jump on pop-up premium trips with less than two hours notice. Also do local trips without wasting $ on a hotel.

Commuting by car (one - three hours) is not living in base, but it sure beats almost any commute by air. If for no other reason than you can ALWAYS go home at the end of a trip, your car never, ever leaves without you if you're late.

Driving longer than three hours would get real old real fast, unless you're in the middle of nowhere and do it all on cruise control. Also problematic for early shows, at some point you'd be leaving for work shortly after your bedtime.