Yes, I suppose there is an issue with the antonyms... My bad.
Let me see if I can clarify...
When RStudio loads, temporary files are created to help it perform its functions/operations. If you are working in a Project, then the temporary files are created in the directory with the Project files. If you are not working in a Project, then the temporary files are created in a default directory you can specifiy in the settings. Those temporary files are then deleted when you close RStudio, no matter whether there is a Project loaded or not. The project files, however, stay in the Project directory.
Is there a way to set where those temporary files are always referenced, which may differ from where Projects reference Project related files.