I’m working on a comprehensive list of all the repairs and improvements i’d like to make to the Handbasket, organized by priority. I’m well aware that none of this will work out the way i plan, lol, and i know i’ll keep adding to it, but here’s what i got so far:

1. Safety and functionality
2. Upgrades and cost-reducing measures
3. Comfort and style

1. Safety and functionality

• Finish destinkification
  I can’t live somewhere that makes my throat swell until i lose my voice, so before i do anything else, i have to finish cleaning the interior, including scraping off the old wall-paper and shampooing the cushions that i’m not tossing
• Leak in the overcab
  My mom and i discovered this when we began cleaning the interior. It appears to be small and i think i can see where it’s coming in, but i need to get a professional (or maybe RV Nerd Neighbor, who has been such a help so far!) to look at it
• New tires
• Remove dinette & replace with two desks
  I have zero use for a table and bench seats, and i cannot do my job without a computer desk and a drafting table and/or easel
• Add drawers/shelves into overcab
  Also zero use for a bed my dogs can’t hop into, so this will be for storage. I need to get measurements, but i’m planning to store soft goods like blankets, towels, my clothes, and then in some low-profile custom shelves beneath those, i’ll keep flat canvases/art papers
• Bike rack
  My bike will be more important now than ever, since driving the Handbasket more than i have to is irresponsible with that kind of gas consumption–it’s a heavy vehicle
• Look into water pooling on the roof under the A/C unit
  This might not be something i can do much about, but i read that roof leaks often begin here, with the weight of the A/C bowing the roof slightly and allowing water to collect, and i’m hoping there are things i can do to mitigate its effect
• Camera (and other security measures?)
  I already have one camera, and i still have to look into alarm options. I don’t think anyone is going to break in when Cedar is in there, but i’d like our house to still be there when we come back from a walk, haha

2. Upgrades and cost-reducing measures

• Solar panels
  I want to be off-grid capable even if i’m not always using it. The Handbasket has a generator but i’d prefer quiet, renewable energy whenever possible
• LED lighting for art desk
  I have a good one, but i am using it, so i probably won’t put this in permanently until i move into the RV
• Laminate to replace carpet under/beside desk area
  Like many pet owners and klutzes, i despise carpet, lol. I plan on extending the laminate in the back to cover the rest of the floor
• A fold-up/fold-out/fold-down/etc. work surface
  For filling shop orders, repairing clothing/other textiles, and building a complex model train set (okay not that last one, lol)

3. Comfort and style

• Paint and/or re-paper the walls
  I’d actually prefer everything to just be white—it’ll make it easier to see everything inside—but i’m still considering checking Spoonflower for cool wallpaper. I could never afford to wallpaper a house but a tiny little RV? Maybe!
• Frosted window clings
  I don’t really need curtains because i don’t care about blocking out light (when it’s light, i’m awake), so this seems like a good solution for now. Later, i’ll choose fabric and make some custom curtains
• Plant racks over windows
  The foliage is actually part of what will offer me privacy. I’m hoping to bring as many of my plants as i can; many of them are housed in hanging planters and bottles of water, so if i get a frame that can slide/clip into a housing over the window, then do a little macramé magic to keep them from swinging around when the vehicle is in motion, i think i can keep many of them
• Replace cupboard panels with mesh for air circulation
  A tip i learned on the RV and Van Living forums, and it seems quite relevant since having my plants does mean higher humidity
• Get rid of the weird carpet behind the toilet
  Why? WHY? lol
• Custom covers for front seats
  I prefer washable covers on furniture whether the house has wheels or not, but i’d also like to lean into my “white, peachy, grey, and plants” aesthetic. I’m hoping i can find something i like on Spoonflower and my mom can help me make covers out of it
• Buff off the old peeling stripes & repaint the exterior
  I haven’t decided what to paint on it. Maybe a swamp! Probably not this, but it was fun as a mockup:

…And seriously, look at my gorgeous plants. Think i can cram all 56 of them into the RV?