Why so much?

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That's an exceptionally large amount of time in hotels.
Did you never have vacation and only get min days off?

12 days off x 12 months = 144 days at home.
365-220=145


Sorry, but unless I am missing something, that math is suspect.

Did you work over your vacation?

You stated you weren't even including your commuting days, so that's out.
How did you manage this?

He works at the Days Inn Chester.

I commute and have a typical 4-on 3-off schedule. As long as the trips are commmutable (they usually are for me), that equates to 4 night in my own bed every week, and 3 in a hotel. I've commuted for 10 years now...I can't imagine how amazing living in base would be, but I feel like I don't have it that bad.

I didn't count my days. I just figured working 18 days a month for a year. Forgot to factor in vacation and stuff. Guess it felt like it was that much

If you're not going to post accurately, don't post. No point in leading the guy astray.
That said, I do believe that it might have felt like that much time away.
Life at regionals is not great, but it has gotten better, and if you live in domicile, it's usually a pretty good job. However, we should all be mainline employees with one level of safety, training and seniority...

I think there are too many variables to answer this question. But here goes...

If you live in Denver and are a "Denver person" in that you enjoy the mountains all year, enjoy good Colorado craft beer or just don't see yourself moving to a different city then Skywest or Boutique is the best option.

I made the mistake of going to Republic, which at the time had a Denver base. The base has since closed 3 times which left me commuting for 7 years so far. During that commute, because of our base distribution/geography I've only been above 1/2 up a base for a few months in 9 years (~4 months). That said, I never chased the junior base because they were always a 3.5-4 hour flight from DEN.

I upgraded as a FO on reserve at 6.5 years to a CA commuting to reserve. So I upgraded in 2013 after my last two years of reserve and I've been on reserve since (with some lines during months where I got lucky). During bad months I would spend 24 days a month in the airport. Most months I would spend around 20 days in the airport. This is mainly due to non-commutable reserve start times and non-commutable trip finishes.

So as you'll see elsewhere I would chose living in base over pay. I'd also look at upgrade time to the base you live in. I don't know about other companies but movement on our CA list is WAY WAY slower. I've been the same relative seniority in my base for 6 years between my last two locations.

Guaranteed your mileage will vary. This is just a snapshot of one person's experience with regional QoL. There are people at my company that have always enjoyed 14+ days off a month and never really sat reserve. So just understand what can happen.

If you are making good money and have everything that you want, why would you ruin it to become an airline pilot? Have a teary eyed emotion about it? Well, get your private pilots license first, and take it from there. If it's something you must do, then you gotta do it. Perhaps after you get you private pilots license, your perspective will change. Approach this with logic, not emotion.

Really- this job is all about the crew you're flying with, the overnights (how long, how good), and your own attitude.

Good crew + 20 hours in Ottawa in the spring + my good attitude because of the first two things and the job kicks ass.

****ty crew + 30 hours in Augusta with nothing around but a Waffle House and a mini mart + my bad attitude because of the first 2 things and I want to slit my wrists.

My airline doesn't have long/short hotels, and most of our overnights suck. I call it "paying my dues", we can't start our careers by flying one leg to Tokyo for the 30 hour overnight.
Just realize, sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it sucks- kinda like life.

Lengthwise, not across...