Local take from Costa Mesa, California: keep paperwork boring and organized. School records, medical records, vehicle documents, proof of address, lease terms, insurance, employer paperwork, and IDs should be ready before the move gets chaotic. If visa or work authorization is involved, treat forum advice as background only and confirm with the employer or a qualified professional. Use one digital folder and one printed folder. Moving has a talent for hiding the exact paper needed tomorrow morning. Coming from Hartford, Connecticut, the comparison was never one clean upgrade or downgrade. Some things improved, some got harder, and different family members adjusted at different speeds. That mixed feeling is normal.