diff --git a/vimrc b/vimrc
index 9157dd1..be7093c 100644
--- a/vimrc
+++ b/vimrc
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@ filetype plugin indent on
 set nocompatible
 " turn on syntax support
 syntax on
+" set up a line number on the current line but relative above and below to help
+" with motion commands
+set number
+set relativenumber
+
+" make white space visible, where that matters
+set list
 
 " it is a big fat key, after all
 let mapleader = "\<Space>"