[Shade]

Well, have you tried mods that give the game a different aspect?
I suggest Tekkit or Feed the Beast. Both these mod compilations feature some really excellent mods that change many of the game mechanics significantly and i assure you, you will have a lot of fun figuring it out once you get going.
Another thing you could try is role-play servers. These are always fun and you can normally make a few friends along the way.

~Shade