Learned that lesson Christmas 2010 when I shipped presents to Montana Parcel Post and they didn't arrive until December 30 (the day after we left to come back home). Snowstorms disrupted mail delivery across the country and, as I found out, Parcel Post gets bumped to low priority. If you do decide to ship your gear, at least consider carrying on one rod/reel, just-in-case. I've had pretty good luck shipping gear (although I don't do it any more), but there was the time I sent a rod back from a trip out west and UPS held it hostage in Duluth for 10 days.
Regards,
Scott