A Reusable Home (first in a series): Who’s turn is it to do the dishes?

A few weeks ago I was at a thrift shop and was strongly considered buying a picnic basket I saw on display, though I managed to avoid the twenty dollar temptation (a high thrift store price, I thought, even though the condition was excellent). The basket looked much like a small suitcase that fastened with leather straps. It was fabric-lined and had a set of lovely metal cutlery, real glass stemware, and dishes- white with little blue flowers. Everything fastened securely into place with straps, and underneath was a blue floral tablecloth and set of cloth napkins. Of course the basket with all those items was heavy, and one wouldn’t want to carry it very far on a picnic. But it was incredibly lovely, and though I didn’t need it (I have several picnic baskets, though none as elaborate as this) I still thought about buying it with the idea: why not just use it at home? Open it up and keep on the countertop; use the contents, and store them inside the basket on the counter after washing?