Thanks all ....

I've made it to the bonemass area and built a base ... and a treehouse built above the base.
Only I didn't bring any fine wood so I can't build a portal to get back home ... another mistake to learn from.

Good to know my longboat will survive an attack ... and that I can do battle from it.
It was a simple panic that caused my previous trouble ... didn't want to die at sea so I hopped onto land ... and was dead within 20 secs when some insects arrived.
But ... this is how you learn to play the game.
My plan is to take down Bonemass and see what that gets me ... and then regroup and go resource collecting.
Secure and improve my bases my bases, build lots of new goodies and head off for more adventures with almost certain death involved.