That's interesting. I've had to do this 2 times in recent memory, and it's always been oddly therapeutic. I get a chance to hold every book and pack it just so, so that it's not hurt during the journey. And I inevitably find a few long-lost books -- "Oh, that's where you've been all along!" And I always surface a few that I meant to read and totally forgot about -- those jump straight to the top of my to-read pile, to be unboxed first in the new place.

I feel a similar bit of anxiety as you when it comes to fancy furniture though. I learned a few years ago that it makes sense to buy the good stuff -- but the question is looming in the back of my mind as I prepare to move again in a few months. The boxes (of books and everything else) are perhaps easier because I know I can move them myself and treat them gently, but I worry much more about the furniture getting roughed up during the journey.