Yes,users routine move profiles from one OS to another. Having both PCs using the same version of Thunderbird keeps it simple. It's basically a cut and paste.

I know that the file structure of Linux and Windows is drastically different. So how is is possible to copy folders from one to the other? If the main Thunderbird folders are the same, where placement of them may or may not be self evident. This isn't going to be quite that simple in as much as I will likely use the same hardware - meaning I will have to save images of the current set up. Then after installing Linux, I would have to use the images to source the windows setup. I have several large drives, including a large external Drobo backup system. This is all speculative, as I need to learn and determine whether of not this would be feasible. Thanks anyways, Gerald

Copy your Thunderbird profile from Windows to an external drive. Install Linux. Install Thunderbird on Linux. Thunderbird will tell you where to put your profile. Copy your Thunderbird profile from the external drive to Linux. No need for images for the sake of Thunderbird. Just files.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

I have done this many times, and have advised many users here on the forum. i happen to have a dual-boot PC and have copied profile from one setup to the other with no problems.