customary way of keeping your own Python and module directory in $HOME

[jmg3000 at gmail.com]

What's the customary way to keep your own local Python and package
directory? For example, when you're on a server where you don't have
root access, and everything must go in your home directory.

* What directories do you create?
* What environment variables do you set?
* What config files do you keep?
* Does that setup work with distutils and setuptools? What special
options do you need to pass to these tools when installing modules for
everything to work right?

Please, share your tips.