Since Darien, Connecticut, is and always will be the World Capital of In-Store Marketing, I spent a total of 13 years working there for one company or another.  So we made it a special point to meander off the Intracoastal Waterway to the charming old town of Darien, Georgia.

It is a slow-moving Low Country town where shrimping is the major industry — the Blessing of the Fleet is next weekend.  Nary a hedge fund, investment bank nor promotion agency in sight.  It is almost as old as Darien, CT, established in 1735 by General Oglethorpe himself, the founder of the whole state of Georgia.  Alas, not much of the really old town still exists since it was burned to the ground during Sherman’s March to the Sea.  You won’t find a Grant Park, Lincoln Elementary School or Sherman Municipal Auditorium.

I wanted to include a shot of Main Street, but couldn’t get a good one because it had been closed down for a Saturday night music performance by a Scottish rock band featuring a lead bagpiper instead of a lead singer.  After a totally delicious shrimp dinner on the Darien River, we went to town to listen. Bagpipes of any sort, rock or martial, are an acquired taste (but so they say is Scotch whiskey, which I have become right fond of) and it was a brief visit.

This Darien compares quite well to my old stomping ground, though lack of a Brooks Brothers, Panera Bread or Starbucks could be a downside.  On the other hand, the shrimp in Darien, CT, is pretty pedestrian stuff.  That led me to think — given the new life I’m living, if I had to pick one of the two Darien’s in which to spend the rest of my days, which would I choose?

Would I lie to you?

Would I lie to you?

Shrimping is the major local industry. But given the price of wild shrimp lately, I think they may be doing a little private equity on the side.

Shrimping is the major local industry. But given the price of wild shrimp lately, I think they may be doing a little private equity on the side.

Sunset Darien (Georgia).

Sunset Darien (Georgia).

City park wreathed in Spanish Moss.

City park wreathed in Spanish Moss.

train

Look, their train station is red, too, (although the DG train no longer runs)<

st cyprians

St. Cyprians, an African-American church founded during Reconstruction. Funded by subscriptions by Anglicans in England.

The Darien River -- nine miles of water, grass, sky -- and more grass.

The Darien River — nine miles of water, grass, sky — and more grass.

Scottish rock band fronted by a bagpiper -- you got that in Connecticut, you damn Yankees?

Scottish rock band fronted by a bagpiper — you got that in Connecticut, you damn Yankees?

Pretty home in the historic district.

Pretty home in the historic district.