diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index 8788e1495..39982c5d1 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -164,3 +164,5 @@ suggestions:
   Tim None
   trHD
   Benjamin Weber
+  alparo
+
diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 4bf3fb6a9..e32f5ba98 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ Features
  + Added the configuration variable 'print.empty.columns'.
 
 Bugs
+ + Fixed bug #642, so that the default 'data.location=~/.task' preserves the
+   '~', leading to more portable .taskrc files (thanks to alparo).
  + Fixed bug #947, #1031, which kept expanding aliases after the '--' operator
    (thanks to Jim B).
  + Fixed bug #1038, which prints blank lines with bulk changes and when the
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index f0d245791..3f595bdb7 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ New commands in taskwarrior 2.2.0
 New configuration options in taskwarrior 2.2.0
 
   - New color rule 'color.uda.<uda-name>'.
-  + Added the configuration variable 'print.empty.columns'.
+  - Added the configuration variable 'print.empty.columns'.
+  - Any ~ characters in a default .taskrc file are preserved.
 
 Newly deprecated features in taskwarrior 2.2.0
   
diff --git a/src/Config.cpp b/src/Config.cpp
index 93689d3a6..39e2164f0 100644
--- a/src/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/Config.cpp
@@ -31,12 +31,10 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <algorithm>
-#include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include <pwd.h>
 #include <Directory.h>
 #include <Date.h>
 #include <File.h>
diff --git a/src/Context.cpp b/src/Context.cpp
index 4ef958691..944822ba7 100644
--- a/src/Context.cpp
+++ b/src/Context.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <assert.h>
-#include <pwd.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
@@ -579,18 +578,8 @@ const std::vector <std::string> Context::getCommands () const
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void Context::assumeLocations ()
 {
-  // Note that this pointer is deliberately not free()'d, even though valgrind
-  // complains about it.  It is either not necessary, or forbidden, depending
-  // on OS.
-
-  // Set up default locations.
-  struct passwd* pw = getpwuid (getuid ());
-  if (!pw)
-    throw std::string (STRING_NO_HOME);
-
-  home_dir = pw->pw_dir;
-  rc_file  = File      (home_dir + "/.taskrc");
-  data_dir = Directory (home_dir + "/.task");
+  rc_file  = File      ("~/.taskrc");
+  data_dir = Directory ("~/.task");
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -603,14 +592,14 @@ void Context::createDefaultConfig ()
         !confirm (format (STRING_CONTEXT_CREATE_RC, home_dir, rc_file._data)))
       throw std::string (STRING_CONTEXT_NEED_RC);
 
-    config.createDefaultRC (rc_file, data_dir);
+    config.createDefaultRC (rc_file, data_dir._original);
   }
 
   // Create data location, if necessary.
   config.createDefaultData (data_dir);
 
   // Create extension directory, if necessary.
-/* TODO Enable this when the time is right, say for 2.1
+/* TODO Enable this when the time is right, say for 2.4
   if (! extension_dir.exists ())
     extension_dir.create ();
 */
diff --git a/src/Path.cpp b/src/Path.cpp
index 34b67632a..1defe4029 100644
--- a/src/Path.cpp
+++ b/src/Path.cpp
@@ -53,12 +53,16 @@ Path::Path ()
 Path::Path (const Path& other)
 {
   if (this != &other)
-    _data = other._data;
+  {
+    _original = other._original;
+    _data     = other._data;
+  }
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 Path::Path (const std::string& in)
 {
+  _original = in;
   _data = expand (in);
 }
 
@@ -71,7 +75,10 @@ Path::~Path ()
 Path& Path::operator= (const Path& other)
 {
   if (this != &other)
-    this->_data = other._data;
+  {
+    this->_original = other._original;
+    this->_data     = other._data;
+  }
 
   return *this;
 }
diff --git a/src/Path.h b/src/Path.h
index 117ecc7af..8a7951779 100644
--- a/src/Path.h
+++ b/src/Path.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ public:
   static std::vector<std::string> glob (const std::string&);
 
 public:
+  std::string _original;
   std::string _data;
 };