I'm creating jQuery plugins using the pattern from the Plugins Authoring page:

(function($) {

   $.fn.myPlugin = function(settings) {
     var config = {'foo': 'bar'};

     if (settings) $.extend(config, settings);

     this.each(function() {
       // element-specific code here
     });

     return this;

   };

 })(jQuery);

My code calls for several private methods that manipulate this. I am calling these private methods using the apply(this, arguments) pattern. Is there a way of designing my plugin such that I don't have to call apply to pass this from method to method?

My modified plugin code looks roughly like this:

(function($) {

   $.fn.myPlugin = function(settings) {
     var config = {'foo': 'bar'};

     if (settings) $.extend(config, settings);

     this.each(function() {
       method1.apply(this);
     });

     return this;

   };

   function method1() {
     // do stuff with $(this)
     method2.apply(this);
   }

   function method2() {
     // do stuff with $(this), etc... 
   }

 })(jQuery);