"retain affection" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of maintaining affection for someone or something, either through time or in spite of challenges. For example, "Despite all the difficulties they'd been through, they managed to retain affection for each other."
If so you may retain affection for the score for "The Wiz" — even perhaps for the insanely bloated 1978 movie version directed by Sidney Lumet, of all people.
When people are mad about Washington, they fall into a "throw the bums out" mentality but, paradoxically, they still tend to retain affection for the local official who they feel they know personally.
Mr. Blankfein "apparently retained affection for his childhood home" in the Linden Projects, the magazine writes.
She called the relationship between lady and log "one of mutual respect" and retained affection for the character.
He doesn't regret his teenage posturings; he retains affection for that "luxuriantly poisonous style, but it is, I suppose, not much more than literary drag".
Bleszinski retains affection for many older games, but he says, "If you go back and play the majority of old games, they really aren't very good".
Mr. Derbyshire retains affection for his Anglican schooling — "I sing hymns in my car," he said — and Ms. Mac Donald respects many religious people she knows.
The Sib, though, enjoyed it unapologetically and still retains affection for other Portuguese bargains like Casal Garcia, a light, fizzy vinho verde that is admittedly less nasty than Lancers.
I confess I still retain some affection for Oscar.
Politicians who can make themselves look foolish and still retain your affection may be an exception.
Guess they retain an affection for the club following the exploits of Tigana, Saha, Malbranque and, er, Steve Marlet.
