Switch Apple ID to more current email address??

My Apple ID is an old email address which I still have access though rarely use and I would prefer to change my Apple ID to my more current email address. Would this be a pain to switch over and would I lose all of my purchased/free apps? (If that is the case, I will not do the switch because I do not want to lose everything I have paid for or the apps that I have gotten for free over the years just to switch ID to different email address.) Thanks for your help!