# File lib/rubygems.rb, line 488
  def self.path
    @gem_path ||= nil

    unless @gem_path then
      paths = if ENV['GEM_PATH'] then
                [ENV['GEM_PATH']]
              else
                [default_path]
              end

      if defined?(APPLE_GEM_HOME) and not ENV['GEM_PATH'] then
        paths << APPLE_GEM_HOME
      end

      set_paths paths.compact.join(File::PATH_SEPARATOR)
    end

    @gem_path
  end