I've done teeny moves (4 blocks) and state to state. I highly suggest burning everything you own and starting over from scratch. I'm sort of kidding and sort of not. I did 6 moves in 3 years once and learned a lot about how to pack to make sure your stuff survives being moved by drunk friends who refuse to read or show up on time.
First, make a list of everything you need to do before you move. It's going to be very long but you can break it down so its all doable. Also, put stuff for you on the list like take a nap, walk in a park, take a bubble bath and other stuff for your mental health. You are the most important thing you'll be moving so you have to take care of yourself!
Organizing:
Separate your stuff (mentally if not physically) into Must Have to Live, Must Have to Function, Emotionally Attached to, Willing to Replace and Burn in a Fire. Start with the last 2 categories and give away/sell/donate/toss as applicable.
The more often you move the smaller the first two categories get and the larger the last two get. Determine if it's cost-effective to replace things vs. moving them. A lot will depend on your method of travel and shipping. Duffel on a bus? Freight car on a train (moving cars cross-country almost always calls for this and you can fill the car and the rest of the space with stuff)? Rented truck? Car with trailer? Keep in mind how much space you have to put your stuff in and how much it will cost by volume/pound depending on your method.
Start with a small area to avoid getting overwhelmed. Keep track of what went in which labeled box so that if you suddenly need something you can lay hands on it without going through every single packed box.
If your family is helpful/dependable they can hold your stuff until you can have it sent or until one of you goes visiting and can bring some with.
Packing:
Never pack a box heavier than you can lift if you have a choice. You may end up with books covered in clothes but if friends/relatives bail on you then you can still get it out to whatever service you're using to move your stuff or into the car/trailer/truck you're taking to FL. If your budget is tight, go to liquor stores for sturdy boxes for books or big-box stores in your area for everything else and ask if you can have some boxes for free. This works better if you don't do it the last week of the month. If you've got stairs or a ton of stuff a $25-35 folding hand cart is a lifesaver.
If you happen to be the strongest person in your group make sure you pack enough boxes light enough that your helpers have something to do and for when you're feeling tired. Always move the heaviest stuff first unless it has to be the last thing loaded in the truck.
Buy packing tape and a tape gun. It's worth it's weight in bruised fingers and sore wrists from dealing with the little plastic finger gougers single rolls come with.
Save newspapers if you have a subscription to wrap stuff in.
Shipping is expensive! Check the cost per pound/container if you're not trying to put it into a car/trailer yourself and leave heavy and/or easily replaced things like dishes/glasses/knickknacks behind. If you part on good terms with your relatives they can send you a box of your stuff every Christmas/birthday.
Breakables you must have can be wrapped in clothes but be very sure they're well-padded and that you'll be okay if glass breaks in your clothes. Never use loose knits or anything with zippers or other hard parts to wrap in. Always pack FRAGILE boxes on top or no higher than shoulder-high on you. This lessens the chance of a bad fall and if the person moving them doesn't check to see a box is fragile it's less likely to end up on the bottom of a new stack being wheeled down a flight of stairs under 3 boxes of books.
Clearly label the boxes on the top and all 4 sides (only label the bottom if you're really paranoid) with "FRAGILE" if anything could break if it's dropped more than 6 feet and a code to tell you what's inside. I usually do a shipping manifest (A-1/9, A-2/9, etc.) and keep a hardcopy and digital copy of the list with me. Each letter is a room or type of item and the first number is the box number and the second is the total number of boxes that go to that room/type. That way everyone can quickly see if all the boxes are there. A big sharpie is fantastic for this. If you're using a service, take pictures of the inside of each box before you tape them up (label the pic with the box code) and a picture of the box taped and whole. It's hard for them to argue that you packed it poorly when you can show them pictures.
Really heavy boxes should be labeled so that 2 people can grab them. I mark mine with a red sharpie so my movers know it's dangerously heavy.
Remove all media from electronics (CDs/DVDs/etc.) before you pack them. Back-up all your files, too and store the back-up in a different box than your electronics. Bag all electronics in plastic garbage bags with the open end taped up on top or draw-string on the bottom. They won't survive submersion but they will survive a carelessly dropped soda.
Do not label boxes holding electronics/jewelry or anything else expensive as what they are unless required to by the moving company. I like to call them "Bathroom supplies" and "Dry pasta" if I have to label them with words instead of codes.
Furniture should be padded--if I don't have anything I'm willing to destroy this way I'll head down to a thrift store and pick out something thick and ugly. I usually duct-tape it in place or tie it down with bungie cords.
Things you will probably want to pack but won't need: cleaning products, candles, decorative items, shoes (I keep 3 pairs and promise myself a shopping spree) and probably a good 20% of your clothes. Liquid cleaners are prone to exploding when you put them in boxes for some reason and end up destroying stuff. I find it's cheaper to buy new than to clean up the mess they create or the laptop they dripped on.
Things we never think of until it's too late and we need them:
Get a copy of your birth certificate, SS card, voter registration (if you have one) and get a state id before you go. Collect any phone numbers, addresses and e-mail addresses you may need (relatives, friends, previous employers, references, doctors). If you've got a passport, grab that, too. These should stay within arms reach at all times.
Pack an overnight bag of supplies and keep track of it. It should also have a copy of your list of what you packed.
If you're on your parents' health plan you'll need to check with them to see how long it will cover you and if there are limitations if you're out of state. In fact, other than emergency care, are there any providers in FL that are with your plan? If you're on meds of any kind ask your doctor if you can get a few extra months of supply because you'll be moving and may need to get a new doctor and get new prescriptions. Depending on your plan you may be able to get up to a year or only 1 month. Also, find out if pharmacies in FL are allowed on your plan. It may be possible to transfer a prescription so you won't have to take it with you.
If you get any physical mail (bills, magazines, whatever) in your name make sure you update your subscriptions/cancel things you don't need. Most of this stuff is done online now but it doesn't hurt to check. Also, go
here and click on Get Started just in case someone sends physical mail to you.
If you have a cell phone plan contact your provider before you move with your new information. If you're on your parents plan you might want to buy a pay as you go until you get settled.
Online, I found this:
http://lifehacker.com/5591389/the-start-to-finish-moving-guide
Take time for yourself! Make sure you take care of you and your health. Try to have a back-up plan if something goes wrong (moving insurance if you're using a service, gas card in your overnight bag if you're driving). Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Knowing that you've got a plan helps even if you don't need it. When I worry in the middle of the night about moving I check my list or add a note about a solution even if it ends up being "call relative for help." Once I've got a plan the worry gets smaller because it's already dealt with.
Good luck!
