That alone will result in a tremendous change in QOL. I realize not everyone can make that move, but if you can it makes all the difference

I am sitting at 60% as a 756 CAP in ORD. Because I am willing to take the early checkin or late checkout trips that no commuter wants, I have worked 0 weekends in the last two months. I had 10 days of vacation in Dec, but outside of that I worked a total of 7 days with 2 nights away from home, for 46 hours of flying. One of the one days was a PPU 100% trip (ORD to SFO, DH back) that I was able to get because I am local. So, being local can allow you to take many trips that are more productive that would be unpalatable for a commuter. The same applies to trip-trading, so you may see greater success in that arena as well.

I don't know what fleet/seat you are in, but my experience over the last 20+ years is that living in base takes a bunch of the pain out of being junior. Back in the day as a 727 FE as a new hire, the first month I held a line, I got my second choice (old line bidding before PBS). The guy one senior to me get my first choice. The next two junior to me got my 3rd and 4th choice. All 4 of the lines consisted of RSW or MCO turns in the afternoon/evening, so a commuter would have been buying a bunch of hotels. As a local guy it was 14 days of work for 77ish hours and no nights away from home. Those 4 lines, were the final 4 lines awarded, so truly one man's garbage is another man's gold.

Not sure what the Misses does for a gig (if anything) but you will also have the benefit of being able to bid reserve if needed for specific days off. That coupled with a more normal staffing level can mean a good number of unused SCs and more days at home than any lineholder. That can be tricky depending on your family circumstances, but if the unknown aspect of whether or not you will be home is workable, reserve as a local dude can mean many more nights in your own bed. I have done many months of reserve in which my wife's family was not convinced I still had a job!