I once interviwed the wife of a psychiatrist who worked with the very, very sick at a state institution. The interview wasn't about his work, but as I filled in these little background details, I asked her how he got into that line of work. She said, "The psychiatrists are the medical students who sit around asking, 'Am I crazy?' and want to figure it out."

So I think you won't be alone in using your personal interest/eccentricity as a steppingstone to a career. Grin.