Project- Bills Buggy

Bill, I'm with DusterDude72 on this one. It sounds like you made up your mind already. You just need to take the leap. The shifter and bench seat will be a compromise you won't be happy with. That's a short shift arm on the quarter stick. You'd be better off putting in buckets and mounting the shifter where it feels comfortable for you. You definitely didn't build a sleeper so it's time to "muscle up" the interior. The bench would work better with a 4 speed shifter anyway.
As for as the wife and bench seat dilemma, put the bench seat in the living room and watch car cruise videos through the winter.