There would be a retaining wall .... but the pool would be on the non load side of it. The wall would do nothing but hold earth away from the pool edge.

The top of the block wall would have a salt treated plate and I would build the 4' spanning desk that goes to the pool off that top plate.

A concrete patio would be poured that leads to the deck that then leads to the pool.

This wont be a cheap way to build it but it will hopefully get me close to the look and feel of an inground pool without the problems that actually burying and back filling to an above ground pool can create.