About Next30ATL

Four people sitting at a table, smiling and engaged in conversation, in a lively restaurant setting.

This is Your Time

Next30ATL is Metro Atlanta's online newsletter and resource center for those who are approaching or living in the Second Half of Life.

The Second Half of Life can be a time of reevaluation, renewal and deeper purpose. We have checked most of society’s compulsory boxes - career, relationship, kids, et cetera. Now we can shift our attention from achievement and accumulation toward meaning, relationships, contribution, health, curiosity and joy. This is not a time of decline, but an opportunity to live more intentionally and authentically than ever before.

So, whether you're planning your retirement, caring for an aging parent, launching a second career, starting a business, downsizing your home, improving your health, or simply wondering what's next, we're here to help.

Our mission is straightforward: to provide trustworthy news and information, practical resources, and local insight that help people thrive during the next thirty years of their lives.

We do that by delivering smart, actionable information to your inbox twice a week, all of which can also be found at Next30ATL.com, along with a wide range of resources, including directories, reviews and resource listings.

Next30ATL is locally owned and focused. We focus on what matters here in Metro Atlanta and across Georgia. We explain how federal, state, and local policies affect your daily life. We identify programs that can save you money, introduce services that make caregiving easier, spotlight businesses and organizations serving older adults, and explore new opportunities for work, travel, volunteering, learning, and healthy living. Perhaps most powerfully, we share personal stories that provide inspiration and provoke thought about what is possible in the Second Half of Life.

Our reporting covers topics including:

Retirement and personal finance
Local events and entertainment
Health and fitness
Adventure and Travel
Friendship and social connections
Inspiring personal stories

Social Security and Medicare
Housing and aging in place
Family issues
Georgia and federal programs and benefits
Encore careers and entrepreneurship

Every article is written with one question in mind: "How will this help members of our community make better decisions?"

Next30ATL is a project of Randall Bloomquist, who has more than four decades of experience in journalism, broadcasting, public relations and business ownership. He has four kids and has lived in Atlanta for 20 years.

Randall has written for numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and ADWEEK, and developed blogs, speeches, documentaries, and other communications for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and media outlets. He has overseen news and programming for more than 160 radio stations and earned national recognition for both journalism and public affairs programming.

He understands that today's adults over 55 aren't looking to fade into the background. They want reliable information, honest reporting, practical advice, and inspiration for what comes next.

That perspective shapes everything we publish.

Our Promise

We believe the Second Half of Life deserves better information than it often receives. So, you'll find no clickbait. No scare tactics. Just carefully researched reporting, thought provoking perspectives, local resources and practical guidance.

When we recommend a program, we'll explain who qualifies. When we report on a policy change, we'll tell you why it matters. When we review an opportunity, we'll present both the advantages and the tradeoffs.

Whether you're planning your own future or helping someone you love navigate theirs, we hope Next30ATL becomes a trusted resource you'll return to again and again.

Welcome to Next30ATL.

Curiosity is my defining trait. I’m fascinated by the what, why and how of life.

If you're like me, you've probably discovered that the second half of life presents a lot of those questions. What's next? How long do I want/need to keep working? Should I start a business? Downsize? Travel more? Will I need to care for aging parents? Support adult children? When should I take Social Security? How do I stay healthy, connected, and purposeful for the decades ahead? Is there anything fun going on this weekend?

Those are the questions that inspired me to create Next30ATL.

I've spent more than 45 years asking questions for a living. As a journalist, I've written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and numerous newspapers, magazines, and trade publications. My goal has always been the same: explain complicated topics clearly and give readers information they can actually use.

But journalism is only part of my story.

Over the years, I've also been a parent, radio executive, public relations professional, entrepreneur, franchise owner, and small business operator. I've managed large teams, launched businesses, made career pivots, and experienced the uncertainties that come with changing jobs, changing industries and changing priorities. I’ve made a lot of money, and I’ve been bankrupt.

I have been married and divorced, and have four kids ranging in age from 42 to 18.

So, like most of us in our 50s, 60s and beyond, I've finally earned that life rarely unfolds according to plan. Reinvention isn't something that happens once; it's something some of us experience several times in our lives. That's one reason I'm so passionate about helping others navigate this stage of life.

I created Next30ATL because I couldn't find a single resource focused specifically on people in metro Atlanta who are entering what I like to call "the next 30 years." There are plenty of retirement websites. This is not one of them.

This is about the second half of life in all its multifaceted, options-filled glory. As you consider what’s next for you, I want this site to become a trusted resource you'll return to again and again, where you feel part of a supportive community.

Everything you'll find here is built on careful reporting, reliable sources, practical experience, and a healthy dose of curiosity. We will do our best to separate fact from hype and fear-mongering, explain issues clearly, and offer ideas that can genuinely improve your life.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll visit often, share your experiences, and become part of the Next30ATL community. Together, we can support each other through these exciting years and make the most of what's ahead.