I've never lost interest in the game itself, but did lose interest in serious competition for a good 14 years. Job got busier, two kids were spawned, and I flatlined in Am-1 while fast Discs were invented and people ten years younger than me were going 100' past me with newfangled Wraiths and whatnot. I was 33 and it was evident I wasn't getting any better. So I just enjoyed playing casually for many years.
Then two things happened that really lit a fire under me. (1) I discovered the prim-o internet coverage of pros and couldn't sit still watching it without wanting to get better. (2) My son picked up the game and started a rapid stretch of improvement.
Now that I'm older, I can compete in MA-40 (and will be MA-50 eligible sooner than I'd like to admit). It's so much more fun than I remember Am-1 being back in the day, plus it's fairly competitive too. I've had more than one guy on my card shoot 990-rated rounds this year! Somehow I usually manage to finish near last cash most of the time, so I'm in a sweet spot there. Love MA-40.
But really, it's all about my kid now. He's beaten me in a couple of rounds and has a 904-rated sanctioned round under his belt at age 11. This experience I'm in the middle of with him has been incredible, warms my heart.
So don't sweat a bunch of time off from being competitive. It happens to the best of us, and being obsessed with the sport can re-emerge in amazing ways later down the road.