This is where it goes for save-as every time: (an SSD)
this is the default save folder. Different drive too (main Nvme):
/home/dh/Pictures/Captures/
Is there a switch I missed to save images to the default folder? Thanks for your help 
what is shown as the save location under the Save tab in configure?
It shows the proper location under the Save tab. I think the problem is in my understanding of what “save-as” is intended for. Thanks for pointing that out 
save-as should just save in the last folder you manually saved to.
It doesn’t. It always goes to a certain directory that I manually saved to in September, and re-creating it if I deleted the path.
Is there anywhere I can manually edit the “remembered” save path?
EDIT: ~/.config/spectaclerc “lastImageSaveAsLocation” looks suspecious
Newer versions of spectacle no longer saves the path to “lastImageSaveAsLocation” even if you use save-as, but it still reads the value in higher priority than “lastImageSaveLocation”. Hence it always sticks to some ancient save-as path.
Clearing that value fixes this.
(The forum does not allow me to edit the previous post, saying it’s “too ancient”)