Where to live?

Live near a decent airport first and foremost. If you have to drive many hours to an airport you will be an unhappy sailor.

After that, it depends on your desires, climate, cost of living, recreation, taxes, do you have or want kids, etc.

That’s the nice part of this job. You can pretty much live anywhere as long as you can get to the job in a reasonable amount of time. Hence the advice about airports.

Sorry if this is a bit of a necropost. Last job had very crappy internet.