My experience of love is in two stages. The buzz at the beginning where you feel on cloud 9.. and then when that wears off, I think real love takes place. The love that means you're supportive, forgiving and are able to compromise - oh and talk talk talk! It's hard work, and will always be, but with the right person it can be very rewarding.
One thing I do say tho, is the relationship I have now was with a dear friend, and we were friends for a couple of years before we hooked up. Totally different to my other relationships as we already liked each other as people and knew of our faults. Its made it a lot stronger. Perhaps you, if you're brave enough, will have a good relationship because you're already friends first? I do think its a shame if you never let yourself love, even once. It can be amazing! As with all things good in life, it can be a risk. But as Tennyson once wrote: "'Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all".