it's a pain to move but a great time to shed some dead weight of stuff you never use, and rediscover cool stuff you forgot about. it also always seems to take at least an hour or more longer than you originally estimate to pack. And I've lived in new places for weeks before finally unpacking all the boxes. a good workout, tho. usually sleep like a baby the night of a move.
i currently live in a fourth-floor walk up (no elevator), and when i moved in, it was the first time i ever hired movers. man, that makes life A LOT easier.