Sounds like the clarinet is definitely an option for you with such a tolerant and receptive partner. If you've played sax before, you'll have a bit of a leg up already. I'm a huge fan of the instrument myself and think you should totally do it. I've gone from feeling it was a little bit geeky and not very cool when I first started playing again, to loving how versatile it is. I've played various recorders, whistles, clarinets and saxes over the years, and I feel as if you can say a lot more with a clarinet than you can with the other wind instruments I've played. But that's probably just my personal bias talking :) -- don't @ me!