title: How to set Ruby's load path externally
body: <p>I have a custom Ruby library directory that I'd like to have automatically added to Ruby's load path whenever Ruby is executed.  I know I can use the <code>-I</code> option to Ruby, but is there something like an environment variable that I can set that will globally determine Ruby's load path.</p>
  
  <p>I want to install Ruby Gems on a Linux box where I don't have root privileges, so I need to have a Ruby load path in a non-standard location.  I installed RubyGems per "<a href="http://rubygems.org/read/chapter/3#page83" rel="noreferrer">Installing RubyGems in a User Directory</a>", but the <code>gem</code> command isn't picking up the non-standard load path.  </p>
  
  <p>Maybe I'm missing something obvious here and making things harder for myself?</p>