Thanks everybody for the input. It has helped. I have decided to set my story in a "reminiscent" location.
I deal with 'real' locations a lot like Islander described. I was the same way about using existing locations, whether it was one I was only vaguely familiar with or one I lived in for years. Something about using the name of the actual location fills me with that anxiety to get it down super accurately, to the point of distraction. I solved it by continuing to base my location descriptions around an actual place, only changing the name. In doing so, it just lifted a massive weight from my shoulders and I felt more freedom to tweak details and create what I wanted without feeling boxed in. I still did all the research of locations I liked to get the 'feel' of them for myself, I just renamed them. Worked out good for me, hope it does for you too
