I'm not quite sure how to address this. Unlocking shops, collecting public works projects and items, and filling the museum is a pretty big part of how the game unfolds. I suppose if those things don't interest you, you could focus more on your villagers, how your town looks, and playing with other people. If time is the issue, time travel can speed things up but some people find doing too much at once just a different kind of tedium.
The great thing about Animal Crossing is that there's rarely anything you must do at any given time (outside of holidays and events). You can set your own goals at your own pace. There's still an active enough community here if there's anything you need or want. I think you just have to figure out which aspects you like best and focus on those while letting the rest of the game just open as you go.