Don't knock the East coast or the Gulf. When it comes down to it, you'll have 12 - 18 months 'honeymoon period' where everything is new and interesting. After which, you may well have moved someway up the seniority list. For example, Newark is not highly regarded (for many reasons) but it's only 45 mins on the train to Manhattan! Every destination is what YOU make of it.
On the B777 a block of reserve is 28 days! However:
The first 7 days are a week of FDOs (Fixed Days Off) Think of them as an extra weeks leave! Because even the most junior can bid for (and get) pretty well any stby block, the ability to select these extra weeks 'leave' can be really useful!
The following 21 days you need to be able to reach the car park (note - 'the car park'!) in 2 hours. Quite often, when there is work to be covered it will be allocated the day before, by around 1800. So you have plenty of notice. It is unusual, though not unheard of, to be asked to come to work 'immediately' from home standby.
If you fly a trip from stby, you are guaranteed (I believe) one local day off, before being liable once again for stby. At least once in your block, you will be allocated a long break (minimum 2 days off) Can't recall if this could happen down route!
All in all, it's probably not quite as bad as it sounds. Just as well really since I imagine you might be required to do 3 or so of these per annum in your early years.
Some senior trips also, fall down to reserve, so you can go to places you might not otherwise see.
Enjoy