Sharing Time Machine Back Up with Desktop and MacBook

Hello,
In preparation for my work on the road I back up my desktop using Time Machine on my Time Capsule, wipe my MacBook clean and Migrate my files to the MacBook so I can take everything. In recent years I notice when syncing my devices, that process has improved and the iPhone,iPad recognises the MacBook as basically the same as my desktop and I don't have to wipe and sync the device. Thank you Apple engineers for that improvement.
This year is a bit different. I have done the migration, but am delayed departing. I would like to share my Time Machine back up across the two computers. Sort of a poor mans macbook sync. I would treat the Macbook as disposable and the Desktop as primary. Make changes to the iMac then update the MacBook before I leave.
Can I use my desktop , back it up to Time Machine, then update the macbook as required? I would do this until I leave.
Also I noticed for the first time the MacBook is running a different OS to the iMac. Will this matter to me?
Thanks,
Ken
Desktop is an iMac 24 running MacOS10.6.8, 2.4 GHz C2D
MacBook is an early 2008 running MacOS 10.6.3, 2.4 GHz C2D
Time Capsule 802.11n, 1st Generation, version 7.6.4
iPhone 3GS iOS 6.1.6
iPad 2 , iOS 7.1.2

So, the macbook today, I did get this message from the OS re TimeMachine
"Would you like to reuse the backup "/Volume/....sparsebundle"
The backup was created on a different computer. If you reuse this backup it can no longer be used by the original computer.
I selected Reuse Backup. This is very convenient. I am wondering now.
How do I select back and forth on the computer to reuse the various back ups?
Ken

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