I live in Petaluma and the worst time to have to drive in starts about 6:30am or so. So for an earlier show I try to be out the door by about 6 and just accept I'll have plenty of time to grab a coffee. Then by about 9 it's not too bad. Coming home and being on the road between 3-6/6:30pm is pretty bad as well. So to commute from Sonoma County will largely depend on how many times a week the OP's wife has to go into SF and what time that is. WorstPilotEver isn't wrong in saying if her hours are about 5-1 it's fine.

looking on zillow rental i see some 1/1 apts within a couple blocks of the park for about 3500. I would imagine parking is extra, but the units look nice, with gyms, pools, bbq, etc. the time and gas money and frustration saved by the wife being close to work would make that look cheap.

I agree for the most part, I personally would take the commuting hell over risking it on BART every day if I had to make that choice.

Might also check out San Carlos and Redwood City.

you’re looking at about 5/6 k for a just ok house. In sc and rwc.

But it’s an amazing commute to sfo. 20 minutes any time of day. You have both 280 and 101 options.

I'll keep my 4 bedroom/3 bath house on an acre with a pool for $1,800/ month.

You do that. and i will keep my house in the bay area that has tripled in value. and not have to commute to work.

Oklahoma City?

Also look at AirBnb for a temp-to-perm landing pad.

yes it will be expensive (although the monthly discounts are often good)

But it will come furnished, utilitied and insured and give you a couple months to live the life before committing to a lease or purchase.

Alameda. An island city between OAK airport and downtown Oakland, yet being an island, feels separate from both. Kinda a Mayberry bubble in the middle of the East Bay, has an old time America hometown feel, a mix of older classic houses and new construction. Reliable and frequent ferry service to downtown SF for the wife's commute