diff --git a/npmrc b/npmrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73b78c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/npmrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+prefix = ~/local
diff --git a/zshrc b/zshrc
index d039c0d..da3f038 100644
--- a/zshrc
+++ b/zshrc
@@ -30,14 +30,9 @@ source $ZSH/oh-my-zsh.sh
 
 # Customize to your needs...
 
-# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
-if [ -d "$HOME/bin" ] ; then
-    PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
-fi
+# use $HOME/local as default prefix for npm global installs
+HOME_LOCAL=$HOME/local
 
-# local node install
-NODE_PATH="$HOME/.nave/current"
-if [ -d $NODE_PATH ] ; then
-    PATH="$NODE_PATH/bin:$PATH"
-    export NODE_PATH
+if [ -d "$HOME_LOCAL/bin" ] ; then
+    PATH="$HOME_LOCAL/bin:$PATH"
 fi