Originally Posted by
YANXJTPilot
To each his own, but there other considerations such as show time.
Example: If you live in base and have a noon callout, with a worst case 2pm show then that's better than a trip you have to commute for the night before as a lineholder. And maybe you don't get home until the day after it's done.
You're right. To add to that point, the base you choose to live at may not be commuter friendly. However, how many noon call-out reserve schedules are there?
If you live in base, it doesn't really matter what your call-out or show time is.
Houston seems to have more commutable lines. So far, I only have had to commute in the night before or commute home the day after roughly once per month after going back to commuting for the last 1.5 years. That is my experience in Houston as a mid-seniority line holder. For me, that is preferable to living in the Houston area. I've had to commute for reserve in the past and I lost many more nights at home as a reserve, basically living in a crash pad as well. Living in base is always better for work QOL, but being able to commute is an option that not many professions have. It all depends on your own personal circumstances which one is best.