I’m just a cook, I aint no rocket surgeon

Anyone that knows me, knows that my whole life is my passion to be great, to make a difference. I am constantly thinking of new ideas, well, new to ME. It may be recreating a dish that someone did but in my own way or just to understand how certain hydrocolloids or modified starches work.  I am always in search of great plateware, or new cooking techniques. My cabinets are full of powders, starches, scales, plates, grinders and other little contraptions.  I sometimes just mess around at home and see what I come up with. I’d rather mess up on my own dime than waste the money of an employer. Maybe thats crazy but that is how I think. Is this normal? to have a pantry full of experimental powders and chemicals?   There are not enough hours in the day.