Is this a gulp/gulp-cli version issue?

I keep running into this problem:

    gulpInst.start.apply(gulpInst, toRun);
                   ^

TypeError: Cannot read property 'apply' of undefined
    at /Users/self/.npm-packages/lib/node_modules/gulp/bin/gulp.js:129:20
    at process._tickCallback (internal/process/next_tick.js:61:11)
    at Function.Module.runMain (internal/modules/cjs/loader.js:746:11)
    at startup (internal/bootstrap/node.js:240:19)
    at bootstrapNodeJSCore (internal/bootstrap/node.js:564:3)

All answers I find usually have to do with versions of Gulp and Gulp Cli, local, vs. global. I swear, I have tried every suggestion I can find, with no success.

Any ideas welcome.

Seriously, even pity is welcome at this point ;)