Thanks for the response.

The root problem is probably this: You try to install as root, but the config file cpan uses is in /Users/me/, probably your home dir. That is definitely not how it should be.

I would like to setup things the way they should be. When you say "that is not how it should be", are you talking about using the sudo command, or the location of the .cpan directory? Does something need to be moved? Re-installed?

or open a root shell and make sure your home is the home of root (echo $HOME)

What is a "root shell"? I have full admin privileges.