[OT] upgrading Linux to 64 bit

[Richmond]

I have been running an Ubuntu derivative 32 bit distro for some years 
now, and should
like to upgrade to a 64 bit version.

My hard drive is partitioned so that my /Home stuff is on a different 
partition to
the Boot folder and so on.

Can I "just" install a 64 bit version via the "something else" button, 
retaining my Home partition so
that all my settings and so forth are preserved?

This has been, mainly, necessitated by VMWare going "off" with Kernel 3.19.

It would also be "fun" (?????) to run the LiveCode 8.0.0 64 bit releases.

Richmond.