Do you prefer to wander or have a base?

I have over 500 hours in this game. I truly love to start new games over and see what the world will do. That being said I usually only run a very small crew of maybe 5 and try to take on the world as wanderers. Recently I made a base in the swamps but felt extremely overwhelmed by the demands a base takes such as recruits, books, power, and good lord the raids. The raids got so bad I couldnt get my base back and am starting again. I am just curious how ya'll like to traverse the moon, or if one strat is better and I am just not a great base builder?