Call me crazy, but I'm of the mindset that if I'm working hard and spending years getting to the point of being able to do something few people can do, it's going to be something that is going to get me paid a ton of money, not something that fades with a few months of not exercising.
I'm only lifting 4 times per week 1.5 hours, you don't have to invest that much into lifting to be halfway good at it, you just have to lift hard, with proper form and a good plan. If you sit in a gym 24/7 you#re doing something very wrong.
Also the strength never fades away completely, because you never lose your technique which puts you far ahead of anyone who tries to lift something with improper technique, you'll be stronger even with the same amount of muscle mass because you know how to use your strength the most efficient way.
Plus there is something called muscle memory, if you stop lifting for a couple of years and start again you'll build muscle much much quicker and you'll get back into your former shape in no time.