Thank you all for the advice.

I obviously can't build my rural retreat and live at peace with nature ... not in my main game anyway.

I will take the tip about building my defences and then disguising them with plants/trees. I like that idea.
I just need to continue looking around ... maybe I'll find an ideal spot somewhere that will allow me to build what I'm after.
Until then I'll have to learn to live with putting up some better defences and grouping my structures together. It's all good practice and part of the game.
And stop hiding/running away and get out there and distract/fight the baddies.

If I ever get around to using "Build Share" then I suppose I can duplicate my buildings in a duplicate seed that I haven't fought the bosses.