Even just keeping software updates, backups, and your personal data up to date on both a laptop and a desktop can be frustrating. Two Macs could be doable because of the level of syncing that iCloud provides, but I'd probably still need Screen Sharing every once in a while!

the most I manage for machines right now is:

1 work-provided laptop

1 personal laptop

1 gaming desktop

1 backup laptop (old, like 10 years old)

1 closet server desktop (also old, but runs terraria servers just fine)

On my desk, I use 2 HDMI switches and a USB 3.0 switch to use the same peripherals and monitors for both my work laptop and gaming desktop. At the end of the day, I just hit the buttons on the switches to toggle to my desktop.

I have a USB-C dock that the work laptop plugs into. If i ever want to do work for my side project, I can unplug my work-provided laptop and plug in my personal laptop, and have the same setup as before -- just with a different machine.

It's very interesting to read about other setups and how people use them. For me, it's simply a MBA and logitech mx master 3 mouse.

I love /r/battlestations and /r/averagebattlestations for exactly that reason. Really cool to see what other people have for a setup.