Our move from RI to NY was done in two stages...the first stage was from our home to a temporary rental home, where we stayed for 8 months. While there, we chose to live out of boxes and only unpacked the essentials. We had hoped to close on a home much sooner than 8 months but...
The whole ordeal was taxing enough. I'm set against moving ever again, if I can help it. Probably didn't help that we had a 5, 4, 3, and 2 yr old during the move. (Actually, they were 18 months and up for the first part of the move...then 5, 4, 3, and 2 during the last half of the move).
Ouch. Mine were 4 (almost 5), 8 and 10 at the time of our first move. They were able to help, just chose not to do so as a silent protest against the whole idea of moving out of state. We did discover the 8 year old had over 150 stuffed animals. Only 50 of them made the move. Somewhere there is a whole generation of parent hating me for giving their children a "free stuffed animal" at my yard sale. (especially those who stopped in more than once. LOL)