All true and a short story to prove it
I can both sympathize and relate to all of the above. I have been with my wife for over six years now, two years married, and as she says, "I know I married a sailor."
She was definitely a non-sailor but is making tremendous strides. She grew up around power boats so she likes all aspects except the "tilting thing" (healing).
Two things I found to be the most important:
1. Encourage but do not push (a mistake many of my sailor friends have made and openly regret)
2. Give it time. If she/he has an open mind and understands your passion then it will come with time. How could you not love this!!!
Here's a little story that exemplifies this:
I took Jill from Huntington to Block Island this season. We sailed along with two other boats. This gave her some comfort. We did this trip in two legs. On our first leg we made the decision to continue on to Mattituck through some weather, nothing bad but some varying seas and heat lighting. Mattituck was the only viable port between Port Jeff and Block, and we were well past Port Jeff so we chose to continue on.
The seas kicked up a little and the come-and-go storms made Jill uncomfortable and a little seasick. She ultimately felt better after she passed out in the V berth (I know, this is the reverse of what is common but it works for her). She slept for four hours while I single-handed through the worst of it. I woke her up on our way down the channel into Mattituck's anchorage.
The next day we departed for Block Island, had a wonderful sail, arrived, anchored, cooked dinner, and had a wonderful time doing much of the same for the three nights and four days we stayed. She was hooked.
We left Block Island early in the morning for Westbrook, back towards home but on the CT coast. We had another beautiful sail and grabbed a dock at one of the marinas.
We left for Charles Island, one of our favorite anchorages just off of Milford. Just about 2 nautical miles from our destination I noticed the skies in the distance start to darken an look very weird. To keep her comfortable and to be safe I turned on the motor, furled and dropped sail, lashed everything down, and took a compass bearing on our destination which was just beginning to appear. Sure enough a squall was brewing.
It hit us like a ton of bricks. Knocked Pegasus on her toe rail (sails down). Rain, heavy hail, and thick fog rolled on top of us making steering impossible and visibility none to speak of. I watch the depth drop from 60 feet to 40 feet almost instantly and knew we were getting blown to shallower water quickly. I was having trouble holding course only to realize that we were now going due east, exactly the opposite of bearing I took. Pegasus got spun like a top.
I told Jill to come up and steady the helm while I crawled to the bow, tossed the anchor overboard and hooked the bottom. I figured if it came in fast, it would leave fast.
After getting the boat secured I told Jill to go down below and relax, lit the boat up, and sat outside blowing the air horn every once in a while.
I sat there and tormented. I figured for sure that was it. Why now? We were making such great progress. If the other storm got to her then, oh man, I'm screwed for sure. She is NEVER going to come out on this boat again. All was lost.
Well, the storm passed, I went below to find her tidying up and asking what I wanted for dinner. SHE WAS FINE!!! She had full confidence that all was well. I even found out that she heard boats calling for help on the VHF during the ordeal. I couldn't believe it. She even listened to the Coast Guard report and told me while I was sitting out there they announced a 50mph squall developed off the coast of Milford and was traveling East.
We hauled anchor, continued on to Charles Island, had a wonderful evening, and watched on of the most beautiful sunset after dinner listening to some great music over a hot cup of coffee.
She loved it, loves it, and is a better sailor for it. I am so proud of her. Just in the nick of time too because we now have a baby on the way, who is due in May. She decorated Garrett's room with a sailboat theme.
I love it, I love her, and it is all worth it.
Don't fret, it will all come with some time.