How do you find your old base when starting over after a death?

I've been playing cataclysm for months, I've done nearly everything in the game, starting fresh is a hassle sometimes.

Is there a reliable way to find your old base after dying? In the past I've happened upon it again, or always spawn close by, but this time I just can't find the damn thing, I'm on day 8 with my new character and I've been roaming the map searching, found a survivor map and everything, I don't recognize the street that I remember it being on anywhere.

Does anyone know the game code well enough to tell me a sure fire way to locate my old base?