diff --git a/.tmux-session-hydrate b/.tmux-session-hydrate
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9134a03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.tmux-session-hydrate
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+source "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/tmux/.tmux-session-hydrate-default"
+tmux rename-window -t procs nv-kickstart
+tmux send-keys -t :nv-kickstart "cd $DIR_GIT_PROJECTS/other/kickstart.nvim" c-M
diff --git a/box_setup.sh b/box_setup.sh
index 060504e..04327d7 100755
--- a/box_setup.sh
+++ b/box_setup.sh
@@ -49,13 +49,12 @@ export BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKG_MANAGER_AND_DEFS_CMD="$update_pkg_manager_and_defs_c
 export BOX_SETUP_UPDATE_PKGS_CMD="$update_pkgs_cmd"
 
 # make dirs and copy configs/dotfiles
-source ./src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
+. ./src_files/shell/profile
 ./make_dirs.sh
 ./copy_dotfiles.sh $1
 
 # install programs
-source $ZDOTDIR/.zshenv
-source $ZDOTDIR/.zshrc
+. $ZDOTDIR/.zshrc
 ./install_programs.sh $1
 
 echo "setting the default theme: $DEFAULT_THEME_NAME"
diff --git a/copy_dotfiles.sh b/copy_dotfiles.sh
index 291c8d3..9eaab9a 100755
--- a/copy_dotfiles.sh
+++ b/copy_dotfiles.sh
@@ -34,11 +34,14 @@ sym_link() {
 }
 
 echo "---- copying dotfiles ------------------"
-source src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
-copy_file src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv $HOME # copy first, ensure $ZDOTDIR set
-# copy_file src_files/.config/ksh/.profile $HOME # TODO: if using oksh, get it working
+. ./src_files/shell/profile
 
-# configs/executables/scripts from .config and .local
+# copy over env/profile files used by shell(s)
+copy_file src_files/shell/profile $XDG_CONFIG_HOME
+copy_file src_files/shell/.profile $HOME
+copy_file src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv $HOME
+
+# copy over configs, executables, and scripts
 copy_dir src_files/.config $XDG_CONFIG_HOME
 copy_dir src_files/.local/bin $DIR_BIN
 copy_dir src_files/.local/scripts $DIR_SCRIPTS
diff --git a/make_dirs.sh b/make_dirs.sh
index 40deae8..23a9e2d 100755
--- a/make_dirs.sh
+++ b/make_dirs.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/zsh
 
 echo "---- making system dirs ----------------"
-source ./src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv # ensure env vars set for use below
+. ./src_files/shell/profile # ensure env vars set for use below
 
 # some standard/common directories, some overlap/use in XDG directories
 [[ ! -d "$DIR_LOCAL" ]] && mkdir -p "$DIR_LOCAL"
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
index af2dad6..503c9c5 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
+++ b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
@@ -1,48 +1 @@
-# default programs
-export BROWSER='brave'
-export EDITOR='nvim'
-export TERMINAL='kitty'
-
-# env vars used for my organization structure
-export DIR_HOME_BOX="$HOME/dbox"
-export DIR_NOTES="$DIR_HOME_BOX/notes"
-export DIR_MUSIC="$DIR_HOME_BOX/music/listen"
-export DIR_DEV="$HOME/dev"
-export DIR_GIT_PROJECTS="$DIR_DEV/git"
-
-# util dirs; do not change without checking impact on xdg base dirs
-export DIR_LOCAL="$HOME/.local"
-export DIR_BIN="$DIR_LOCAL/bin"
-export DIR_SCRIPTS="$DIR_LOCAL/scripts"
-export DIR_USER_OPT="$HOME/opt"
-export DIR_USER_LIB="$DIR_LOCAL/lib"
-
-# xdg base directory vars
-export XDG_CONFIG_HOME="$HOME/.config"
-export XDG_CACHE_HOME="$HOME/.cache"
-export XDG_DATA_HOME="$DIR_LOCAL/share"
-export XDG_STATE_HOME="$DIR_LOCAL/state"
-export XDG_DATA_DIRS="/usr/local/share:/usr/share"
-#export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="/etc/xdg" # TODO: does this work on macOS?
-
-# directory for theme/style stuff
-export DIR_THEME_SETTINGS="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zz-this-box/themes"
-export DEFAULT_THEME_NAME="tokyodark"
-
-# zsh
-export ZDOTDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh" # may already be set, set anyway
-
-# git
-export GIT_EDITOR="$EDITOR"
-
-# obsidian
-export OBSIDIAN_WORKSPACES_TO_CONFIGURE=("$DIR_NOTES")
-
-# reaper
-export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/shared"
-export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/linux"
-export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/macos"
-
-# clean-up of home dir
-export __CF_USER_TEXT_ENCODING="0x0:0x0" # TODO: does this actually accomplish anything?
-
+[ -r "$HOME/.config/profile" ] && . $HOME/.config/profile
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
index 44574ae..e12b88c 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
+++ b/src_files/.config/zsh/.zshrc
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ alias weather='curl "wttr.in/dfw?2&F"'
 alias shrug='echo "¯\\_(ツ)_/¯"'
 
 # source extensions and system-specific files
-[[ -a "$ZDOTDIR/zsh-general-dev" ]] && source "$ZDOTDIR/zsh-general-dev"
+[[ -a "$ZDOTDIR/zsh-general-dev" ]] && . "$ZDOTDIR/zsh-general-dev"
 
 # programming and language setup
 [[ -n $(command -v mise) ]] && eval "$(mise activate zsh)"
diff --git a/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev b/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev
index cc5237a..0e9424e 100644
--- a/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev
+++ b/src_files/.config/zsh/zsh-general-dev
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # set env vars, path updates, etc
-[[ -a $HOME/.local-box-vars ]] && source $HOME/.local-box-vars
+[[ -a $HOME/.local-box-vars ]] && . $HOME/.local-box-vars
 
 # login shortcuts
 alias assume="source assume"
diff --git a/src_files/.local/bin/launch-reaper b/src_files/.local/bin/launch-reaper
index 2f2d26a..2dc1f2f 100755
--- a/src_files/.local/bin/launch-reaper
+++ b/src_files/.local/bin/launch-reaper
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # trying the "portable install" option; using this launch script to point to that
-source "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh/.zshenv"
+. $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/profile
 
 reaper_portable_exec_linux="$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX/REAPER/reaper"
 [[ ! -x "$reaper_portable_exec_linux" ]] && {
diff --git a/src_files/.local/scripts/tmux-session-init b/src_files/.local/scripts/tmux-session-init
index 42349b8..5069ebc 100755
--- a/src_files/.local/scripts/tmux-session-init
+++ b/src_files/.local/scripts/tmux-session-init
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tmux_switch_to() {
 tmux_hydrate() {
     local tmux_hydrate_path="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/tmux/.tmux-session-hydrate-default"
     [[ -f $2/.tmux-session-hydrate ]] && tmux_hydrate_path="$2/.tmux-session-hydrate"
-    [[ -f $tmux_hydrate_path ]] && tmux send-keys -t $1 "source $tmux_hydrate_path" c-M
+    [[ -f $tmux_hydrate_path ]] && tmux send-keys -t $1 ". $tmux_hydrate_path" c-M
 }
 
 tmux_existing_sessions=$(tmux list-sessions 2> /dev/null || echo '')
diff --git a/src_files/bin_overrides_macos/launch-reaper b/src_files/bin_overrides_macos/launch-reaper
index bbe95ce..9e7b023 100755
--- a/src_files/bin_overrides_macos/launch-reaper
+++ b/src_files/bin_overrides_macos/launch-reaper
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # trying the "portable install" option; using this launch script to point to that
-source "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh/.zshenv"
+. $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/profile
 
 reaper_portable_exec_macos="$DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS/REAPER.app/Contents/MacOS/REAPER"
 [[ ! -x "$reaper_portable_exec_macos" ]] && {
diff --git a/src_files/shell/.profile b/src_files/shell/.profile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..503c9c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/shell/.profile
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[ -r "$HOME/.config/profile" ] && . $HOME/.config/profile
diff --git a/src_files/shell/profile b/src_files/shell/profile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3f0c4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src_files/shell/profile
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# default programs
+export BROWSER='brave'
+export EDITOR='nvim'
+export TERMINAL='kitty'
+
+# set ENV for ksh/oksh (should be ignored by zsh and bash)
+export ENV="$HOME/.config/ksh/kshrc"
+
+# env vars used for my organization structure
+export DIR_HOME_BOX="$HOME/dbox"
+export DIR_NOTES="$DIR_HOME_BOX/notes"
+export DIR_MUSIC="$DIR_HOME_BOX/music/listen"
+export DIR_DEV="$HOME/dev"
+export DIR_GIT_PROJECTS="$DIR_DEV/git"
+
+# util dirs; do not change without checking impact on xdg base dirs
+export DIR_LOCAL="$HOME/.local"
+export DIR_BIN="$DIR_LOCAL/bin"
+export DIR_SCRIPTS="$DIR_LOCAL/scripts"
+export DIR_USER_OPT="$HOME/opt"
+export DIR_USER_LIB="$DIR_LOCAL/lib"
+
+# xdg base directory vars
+export XDG_CONFIG_HOME="$HOME/.config"
+export XDG_CACHE_HOME="$HOME/.cache"
+export XDG_DATA_HOME="$DIR_LOCAL/share"
+export XDG_STATE_HOME="$DIR_LOCAL/state"
+export XDG_DATA_DIRS="/usr/local/share:/usr/share"
+#export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="/etc/xdg" # TODO: does this work on macOS?
+
+# directory for theme/style stuff
+export DIR_THEME_SETTINGS="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zz-this-box/themes"
+export DEFAULT_THEME_NAME="tokyodark"
+
+# zsh
+export ZDOTDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zsh" # may already be set, set anyway
+
+# git
+export GIT_EDITOR="$EDITOR"
+
+# obsidian
+export OBSIDIAN_WORKSPACES_TO_CONFIGURE=("$DIR_NOTES")
+
+# reaper
+export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_SHARED="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/shared"
+export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_LINUX="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/linux"
+export DIR_REAPER_PORTABLE_MACOS="$DIR_USER_OPT/reaper-portable/macos"
+
+# clean-up of home dir
+export __CF_USER_TEXT_ENCODING="0x0:0x0" # TODO: does this actually accomplish anything?
+
diff --git a/theme_config.sh b/theme_config.sh
index 8cc97c3..00379cf 100755
--- a/theme_config.sh
+++ b/theme_config.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ sym_link() {
 }
 
 echo "---- configuring themes ----------------"
-source src_files/.config/zsh/.zshenv
+. ./src_files/shell/profile
 
 echo "copying theme imports into config dirs"
 omarchy_themes=(`find src_files/imports/themes-omarchy-* -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d`)