Joan Gand couldn’t be happier than when she’s tickling the keys of a rock and roll organ! The pianist, singer, and collector of midcentury modernist pieces educates students on Palm Springs’ mid-mod legacy while weaving her own as true hipster. In the next weeks, we’ll be exploring the power of music and Joan is the perfect spokesmodel for music’s soul-stirring power.

From youth in post-war West Germany to the desert of the American west, the bubbly, zestful Ingeborg Hamilton feels grateful for every step of the journey that’s brought her to Sky Valley Resort. She shares her daily habits, from feeding each and every dog that makes her acquaintance to nurturing the gratitude and kindness in her heart as she moves through each day.

Throughout her life – when she’s not busy geeking out to classic rock and thrifting for collectables – she’s found herself taking care of parents, partners, friends, and even strangers. The independent-minded free spirit drifted from the wide open spaces of Montana to the night clubs of Los Angeles growing up, so it’s no wonder she ended up in the mountain-edged Southern California desert to “age gracefully” as she continues to be an erstwhile companion of the young-at-heart.

Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson were introduced to us as “rock stars,” but that’s not even half of what they’ve been: food stylists, photographers, writers, painters, filmmakers, and Emmy winners! Now in their 70s and loving life (and each other) more than ever, the accomplished Palm Springs couple share carefree, candid, and celebratory reflections on aging, mindset, and the journey thus far.

If you ever wondered what marriage was like as a punk cabaret duo that sounds like “Sonny & Cher meets Syd & Nancy at Timothy Leary’s house,” you’ll be excited to meet Michael Jaye and Abbe Kanter, collectively known as the Tyrants in Therapy. Both in their 70s, their shared music and performance art deals with therapy and mental health in a playful way.

Silverlake Neighborhood Council member and committed grandmother Gloria Morales reveals her secrets to maintaining energy, keeping friendships fun, and staying involved in her community – all while nurturing a rich, intergenerational bond with her grandson, Jeremiah. We interviewed them together on their relationship and insights on aging.

A former flight attendant and current fashion plate, Viga Dean is a sweet soul who follows the guidance of her heart to new places, and shares the magic of Palm Springs with all the friends she makes along the way. She shares the companionship, friendships, and caregiving responsibilities that have materialized on that path, and why dancing remains important to her at the age of “seventy-something”!

 A rebel, one-time model, punk rocker and curator, Tequila Mockingbird brings a whimsical playfulness to every age, including her new one: 70! She shares the ageless secrets of corporate rebellion, living life on your own terms, and aging with style. Look for her new book, PUNK SCHOOL, coming to bookstores near you soon.

Sam Cobb has marched to the beat of his own drum in a different way than many of our previous Ambassadors this season: since he was three years old, Sam dreamed of becoming a farmer! After false starts, failed business ventures, fast food delivery stints, a 20-year career as an agronomist with the USDA, patience, and persistence paid off. Today, Sam Cobb Farms is home to his one-of-a-kind BLACK GOLD dates.

A potter and painter from the Pacific Northwest, Michael Laboon spends his winters on the waterball courts at Sky Valley Resort, which he calls “adult camp.” He loves to play, stay active, and enjoy time with his grandkids, but don’t expect him to take things too seriously. He needs time to contemplate trees, too.

Hollywood costumer, fashion designer, and performance artist Gary Allen shares the meaning and marvel of coincidences, new friends, and chance reunions. He’s danced in platforms on Soul Trail and scouted for Billy Idol’s perfect “White Wedding” dress, but to him the most meaningful thing is the people he’s met along the way.

When piano teacher and author Ruth married Alaskan wilderness engineer and aspiring Eastern Orthodox monk Dan at the age of 48, neither of them knew how stormy their marriage would be, and how a later-in-life autism diagnosis would unlock the secrets to better communication, understanding, and personal growth.

For a man “not obsessed with death,” the former librarian and life-long poet Alex Gildzen sure has written a lot of poems about it! He took Briza to his Poetry Bench in downtown Palm Springs, where the whimsical 83-year-old performed his writing and his life philosophy with a wink and a smile to his friends, both living and dead.

A 70s and 80s LA punk band promoter and current digital artist at Dig It All Gallery, Paul Picasso Hollywood (also known as Phi) has thoughts on stereotypes about aging: what they are, how to avoid them, and which ones are actually true. This week, he shares all with Briza.

How does a couple who enjoys hiking, backpacking, and camping through national parks deal with the aches and pains of getting older? Tim and Pam Manthei share their wisdom for maintaining health and a positive attitude as they appreciate nature in and around the Coachella Valley, and across the country.