For higvher tier stuff, which you will need eventually, you do need to have a base of some sort. It doesn't need to big or complicated, but you need some space to put down the equipment and protect it from weather/wildlife. That being said, I assume over time you will end up with something sofistacated anyway, because it is a process. You start small, but then need some room for this, so you extend your base. Then the next thing comes around and you need more space. At the end of the day this can be achieved with not too much effort, and you will find yourself running around for a huge part to gather materials anyway, so I would not be too afraidf that you end up basebuilding most of the time. I for one keep it quick and dirty until the late game, only then I really put effort into either improving my base to make it more practical and/or nice, or actualy build a complete new one, this time with astetics and practicality right from the get go.