I tried your suggestion…I think.
When I navigate from my desktop to the connected external hd I see the folder I want. The lrcat folder is down the list a bit and when I double click it it asks if I want to open it in another catalog. It has an older date by it anyway. I must have misunderstood your directions.
so
When I open LR on my desktop and look in my folders panel at my HD files, the folder I want is not there. My desktop LR does not recognize it I assume because it was created on the laptop LR.
then
If I choose IMPORT in LR on my desktop and navigate to the folder on my external HD I can see it. But if I import it, I fear that the adjustments made on the road will not come through.
I know there has got to be an easy way to do this!