In terms of progression.
My first base is Meadows boss spawn
I make this my first farm as well.

My second base is a processing facility for Bronze surrounded by 5 or so copper nodes near water for tin.
My first base becomes farm and storage for old/unused stuff.. money storage if I have not found trader yet.

My third base will be on a copper node near multiple iron crypts.
By this time I have a bunch of portals strewn about and need a way to organize them so I make that base a portal hub.

Now I will either make the portal hub my home for cooking / sleeping etc ... but if I find a Maypole in the meadows I will set up a resting/sleeping place around it with max comfort and portal to that to sleep.

After that it comes down to whim. I may set up a proper home in the plains with a farm or I might just have a portal to the plains farm. Mountain I will set up processing on a copper node at the base of a silver mountain but I see that more of an outpost. I have made mountain homes as well but really it comes down to finding a location that says "I want to live here" and roll with it.

Of course the ideal thing I look for is ways to combine things. Still have not found a single base location for iron and silver and be able to run to a copper node from each easily. Or even better on the edge of a meadows with a Maypole ha ha. Maybe one day I'll find that spot.