At first glance, the White Sands La Jolla complex on Olivetas Avenue looks like a Starwoods resort. Located directly on the beach, the E-shaped building is situated on eight lush acres with gardens and pathways leading to the water. A black limousine pulls away from the curb with an elderly, well-dressed woman in the back, no doubt on her way to one of the many cultural events that happen weekly in San Diego. But step inside the main lobby, and it becomes clear that this is a retirement community, where people from their mid-60s to more than 100 years old enjoy life (and the attendant seasonal parties) after work, raising families or home ownership. The residents at White Sands support the data that people are living longer and, in many cases, in good health. The Baby Boomer generation is setting a new standard for senior years, and White Sands is a microcosm of what people are looking for as they age — a place where they can live independently for as long as possible, in a beautiful environment with all the amenities they desire. Those “must-haves” include transportation to cultural events; a beautiful pool for both recreational use and swimming lanes; a Jacuzzi; a state-of-the-art fitness center with a whirlpool, locker rooms and Kaiser equipment; and a full-time fitness director on staff who provides aromatherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, massage, acupuncture, acupressure and chiropractic. While some might dub this laundry list of amenities as luxuries, Gary Boriero, White Sands’ executive director since 2012, said they are necessities for the modern facility. Boriero, a 25-year veteran of the health-care industry, said he’s seen a seismic change in how people are choosing to live their lives after 60 and that it has very little to do with the traditional concept of retirement. “White Sands is a vortex of the universe,” said Boriero, ” because it draws this incredible group of people who are well-known, well-educated and well-established. We’ve had the founder of Texas Instruments here, and I affectionately call this the JD-MD-PhD sector, as half the people have a doctor in front of their name. It’s a hugely active community with more than 40 resident committees. “They come here not just for the location, or the great services provided, or the resort-like atmosphere, or the commitment to all levels of care for the remainder of their lives, but also because they can be active, they can be involved and be part of the operations.” Carolyn Downey has lived at White Sands for eight years but isn’t slowing down. A former superintendent of a K-12 school system and professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University, Downey still runs her own consulting company. “White Sands was one of the most important decisions I had made in my life,” said Downey, a New York Times bestselling author who has published more than 30 books. “You have the ability to enjoy many things you have not been able to enjoy in the past, and I have never been so physically active in my life. Many people wait until they are in their 70s or 80s to move [in]. …I moved here when I was 68 and wish I had moved in at 62, the earliest entry age. You can continue to work and live here. Many of our residents do so.” White Sands can be pricey for some, but it occupies some of the most prime real estate in the country, flanked on both sides by $20 million to $25 million homes. The entry fee starts at $70,000 and can go as high as $1.5 million. The property is undergoing an extensive renovation of its west campus over the next year, with a $14 million investment that will include a new dining venue and a bar. Scheduled to be completed by early 2017 and created by Conley360, there will be a complete remodel of hallways, all common areas, the lobby, the ocean view lounge and the chapel. A new library will be added as well as an elevator. The immediate focus is the preparation for the nearly 100 events happening at White Sands this holiday season, including a Hanukkah dinner, and a Christmas tree lighting and pageant. Also, the residents and staff host a fundraiser with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, said Boriero, “where we give gifts to the kids and put on a big show for them with costumes and singing and dancing. We serve them dinner in the dining room and give them a reprieve from their difficult lives. It gives our residents such joy to give back to the community.” If all that seems exhausting, Boriero said, it’s just a regular holiday season at White Sands. “The word ‘retirement’ needs to retire,” Boriero said with a laugh. “There is no retirement. It’s called living.”