I imagine the Sims' world to be much smaller than our own, with its own compacted environments. Not trying to imagine it as "Earth" makes it a lot easier to accept that Sims can go from a desert to a mountain community and back just to pick up a few things at the shops. I do, though, consider Newcrest to be just outside Willow Creek, as its suburbs, and Magnolia Promenade to be a nearby community. And I consider San Myshuno to be closer to Windenburg than it is to Oasis Springs or Willow Creek. I think of Forgotten Hollow as tucked in between Windenburg and San Myshuno somehow. Brindleton Bay is closer to Oasis Springs and Willow Creek than to others. It probably wouldn't work out on a globe at all :D
