Shelter Matters: Lessons from the Boundary Waters

Last week, I had the chance to unplug and paddle through the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota with a group of boys and leaders from a church in Fort Dodge. Each day brought a new lake, a new campsite, and new challenges. But amid the wilderness and the rhythm of the trip, one lesson kept coming to the surface: shelter matters.

We carried three identical tents on our trip, shared among the crew. And yet, something interesting happened. Even though the tents were technically interchangeable, each group of guys made sure to set up “their” tent every night—the same one they'd been using since the first day. There was a comfort in consistency, a sense of ownership that developed quickly. It wasn’t just a place to sleep. It was their space, their little refuge at the end of a long day of paddling, portaging, and problem-solving.

That experience reminded me a lot of what it means to own a home.

When you’re deep in the woods, where storms roll in fast and the nearest roof is the one you packed with you, you realize how much the right shelter matters. You pay attention to where you put your tent. Is it level? Is it protected from wind? What direction is it facing? Every decision about that space feels important—because it is.

Homeownership is much the same. It's not just about having four walls and a roof. It's about choosing your spot carefully. It’s about orientation—both literally and figuratively. Does the space support your lifestyle? Does it give you peace at the end of the day? Does it feel like yours?

Renting, like borrowing a tent, can get the job done. It’s shelter. But owning—really having a stake in your space—creates a different kind of mindset. You care more. You invest more time, attention, and heart. Even in the wilderness, I saw how quickly people take pride in something they call their own.

And maybe that’s the real takeaway. Home isn’t just where you live. It’s where you belong. Whether you're pitching a tent under the stars or hanging photos on a living room wall, you’re shaping a space that shapes you back.

That’s why I do what I do—not just to help people buy or sell property, but to help them find a place that feels like theirs. A place where they can rest, grow, and return to day after day, knowing it’s exactly where they’re supposed to be.

As a Broker Associate/REALTOR® at EXIT Realty and Associates, I specialize in buying and selling real estate throughout Central Iowa, including Norwalk, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Cumming, Indianola, Carlisle, Waukee, Urbandale, Grimes, Clive, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, and Pleasant Hill. I proudly serve Warren, Polk, Dallas, and Madison Counties.

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Call me, Jon Niemeyer, at 515-490-4675 — no pressure, just perspective.