Old gamer here too since Atari console/ c64....I feel you OP!
What I love about this game is the building system. I can loose myself in hours of planning how and where to build, decorating, changing things. All other aspects of the game like killing bosses and farming metals I see as a necessary activity to advance my base, but fun as well (especially organising swamp farm runs with portals - stacking up two chests with iron ore there in a little outpost before getting it back with the longboat) .
Starting with a basic base then growing when get to stone building, adding a harbour, portal hub, garden, well organised storage and more is like you have a growing little cosy village in the nothingness of nature, where you love to come back with a shipload of ore. Pure viking life!
I'm on my second Coop playthrough, while having a Singleplayer world as well, and every world/village has its own charm.