Here are my travel trips:
Check everything except for your electronics, a toothbrush, a couple of pairs of underwear and socks, a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
Travel clothing:
Long pants, kahkis or slacks, NOT jeans. Slip on shoes, not tennis shoes. A long sleeve shirt with at least one pocket.
How to get through security (I do a lot of travel, and also in and out of security to smoke, and have never once been pulled aside):
Empty your pockets into your carry-on bag, and I mean everything. All pockets empty. Remove your belt, your shoes(place them in a bin by themselves), and outer-wear like jackets or sweaters. If you have piercings, remove them into your carryon, as well as rings and watches. Take your electronics out of the carryon and place them in a seperate bin.
After you pass the detector, gather your crap up in a pile and move past the checkpoint to put yourself back together, PLEASE!.
Don't worry about the transfer of your luggage, it will either make it or not, but there is nothing you can do about it other than be there early so that they have plenty of time for the routing.
To find your terminal, ask the people wearing uniforms and follow the signs and the arrival/departure monitors.
Don't forget that if you smoke, lighters are no longer allowed through security, so bring (1) pack of paper matches in your carryon and check your lighter.