'npm start' kicks off loop to install expo-cli - react-native

Question

QUESTION: How can I make it so $ echo $PATH returns export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH
BACKSTORY:
I did an npm install on terminal (macOS Catalina) and started
to get into a loop about installing expo cli when trying to npm
start. I've since followed instructions here:
https://docs.npmjs.com/resolving-eacces-permissions-errors-when-installing-packages-globally
had to execute step 5 (from link above) as source ~/.bash_profile
Tried npm start but still running into the loop
Already have npm 6.13.4 installed. However, running npm start results in below. Notice how it says Expo CLI installed but asked to install globally again so the 2nd time I say n:
(base) MacBook-Pro:rn-starter user$ npm start
> # start /Users/user/Desktop/REACT NATIVE/rn-starter
> expo start
This command requires Expo CLI.
Do you want to install it globally [Y/n]? Y
Installing the package 'expo-cli'...
Expo CLI installed. You can run `expo --help` for instructions.
This command requires Expo CLI.
Do you want to install it globally [Y/n]? n
npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE
npm ERR! errno 1
npm ERR! # start: `expo start`
npm ERR! Exit status 1
npm ERR!
npm ERR! Failed at the # start script.
npm ERR! This is probably not a problem with npm. There is likely additional logging output above.
npm ERR! A complete log of this run can be found in:
npm ERR! /Users/user/.npm/_logs/2020-04-03T14_39_24_884Z-debug.log
Here's what's on line 8 of the log file:
8 verbose lifecycle #~start: PATH: /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/npm-lifecycle/node-gyp-bin:/Users/user/Desktop/REACT NATIVE/rn-starter/node_modules/.bin:/opt/anaconda3/bin:/opt/anaconda3/condabin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/usr/local/git/bin
I've previously installed Anaconda (several months back) and have uninstalled it using https://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/install/uninstall/ However, running $ echo $PATH results in
/opt/anaconda3/bin:/opt/anaconda3/condabin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/Apple/usr/bin:/usr/local/git/bin
QUESTION: How can I make it so $ echo $PATH returns export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH
Appreciate any suggestions that can help!

Answer 1

How is your package.json file?
Your npm start must is calling the expo