diff --git a/.config/nvim/init.vim b/.config/nvim/init.vim
index 8179fb8..72ad72c 100644
--- a/.config/nvim/init.vim
+++ b/.config/nvim/init.vim
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Plug 'jiangmiao/auto-pairs' " Auto close brackets and ''
 
 " Ecosystem
 " Plug 'tpope/vim-fugitive' - Will have to take a closer look some other time
-Plug 'scrooloose/nerdtree' " directory thingy - perhaps replace it with something more efficient
+Plug 'scrooloose/nerdtree', { 'on': 'NERDTreeToggle' } " show a directory listing within vim
 Plug 'Yggdroot/LeaderF' " fuzzy matcher, apparently faster than fzf, ctrlp, unit, denite
 
 " Language Integration
@@ -75,6 +75,49 @@ endif
 " ================================================================================
 " PLUGIN CONFIGURATION {{{
 " ================================================================================
+
+" PLUGIN: NERDTree
+" highlight the line the cursor is on
+let NERDTreeHighlightCursorline = 1
+
+" remove Press ? for help
+let NERDTreeMinimalUI=1
+
+" loads nerdtree plugin when starting vim with a directory
+" this is necessary when we lazyload nerdtree with vimplug above
+" since it would only get loaded with nttoggle otherwise, and run netrw
+augroup nerd_loader
+  autocmd!
+  autocmd VimEnter * silent! autocmd! FileExplorer
+  autocmd BufEnter,BufNew *
+        \  if isdirectory(expand('<amatch>'))
+        \|   call plug#load('nerdtree')
+        \|   execute 'autocmd! nerd_loader'
+        \| endif
+augroup END
+
+" PLUGIN: DEOPLETE
+" enable deoplete at startup
+let g:deoplete#enable_at_startup = 1
+let g:deoplete#enable_ignore_case = 1
+let g:deoplete#enable_smart_case = 1
+let g:deoplete#enable_camel_case = 1
+let g:deoplete#enable_refresh_always = 1
+let g:deoplete#max_abbr_width = 0
+let g:deoplete#max_menu_width = 0
+let g:deoplete#omni#input_patterns = get(g:,'deoplete#omni#input_patterns',{})
+
+" PLUGIN: ALE
+let g:ale_fix_on_save = 1
+let g:ale_fixers = {
+        \'javascipt': ['eslint', 'prettier'],
+        \'html': ['tidy','prettier'],
+        \'typescript': ['prettier','tslint'],
+        \'*': ['remove_trailing_lines', 'trim_whitespace'],
+        \}
+
+" PLUGIN: AIRLINE
+" PLUGIN: TMUXLINE
 let g:airline_powerline_fonts=1
 let g:airline_theme='raven'
 colorscheme allomancer
@@ -98,24 +141,6 @@ let g:tmuxline_preset = {
 " automatically save the current buffer when navigating away from vim
 let g:tmux_navigator_save_on_switch = 1
 
-" enable deoplete at startup
-let g:deoplete#enable_at_startup = 1
-let g:deoplete#enable_ignore_case = 1
-let g:deoplete#enable_smart_case = 1
-let g:deoplete#enable_camel_case = 1
-let g:deoplete#enable_refresh_always = 1
-let g:deoplete#max_abbr_width = 0
-let g:deoplete#max_menu_width = 0
-let g:deoplete#omni#input_patterns = get(g:,'deoplete#omni#input_patterns',{})
-
-let g:ale_fix_on_save = 1
-let g:ale_fixers = {
-        \'javascipt': ['eslint', 'prettier'],
-        \'html': ['tidy','prettier'],
-        \'typescript': ['prettier','tslint'],
-        \'*': ['remove_trailing_lines', 'trim_whitespace'],
-        \}
-
 " }}}
 " ================================================================================
 " VIM SETTINGS {{{
@@ -207,8 +232,13 @@ nnoremap <leader>T :tabedit .<cr>
 " save current buffer with Ctrl-s
 nnoremap <C-s> :w<cr>
 
-" open NERDtree with leader-e
+" open/close NERDtree with leader-e
+" whatever method tree has been opened by, leader-e closes it again
 nnoremap <leader>e :NERDTreeToggle<CR>
+" open root of current VCS project in tree
+nnoremap <leader><C-e> :NERDTreeVCS<CR>
+" open current nerdtree with current file highlighted
+nnoremap <leader>E :NERDTreeFind<CR>
 
 " }}}
 " ================================================================================