Reminder that Hawking couldn't be arsed to spend his time with physics and went rowing instead (it was only when he got his deadline that he started to work on physics nonstop)
I met a former nuclear physicist in Oakland, who had moved to working in water treatment who told me 'flocculation, way more complex, far more interesting than nuclear chemistry' he seemed happy too.
I also really like safe drinking water. I wish I contributed as much to society.
I do too, but someone of his caliber could probably be doing more good in research.