What is the best way in Vim to operate on relative ranges in visual mode?

Question

I often delete, yank, and paste using something like this:

:3,6y

Since Vim 7, I've switched to using relative line numbers. I find it's much easier to use relative line numbering with commands like h,j,k,l etc.

Since switching to relative line numbering, I find it difficult to operate on absolute ranges (eg. :3,6y). It takes me too long to determine what absolute line numbers I need to select since Vim is displaying relative line numbers.

What is the best/quickest way to use visual selection on a range if your setup is displaying relative line numbering? Naively, I'm looking for something like:

:-2,+8y 

(yank the lines from 2 lines above my current position to 
8 lines below my current position.)

Answer 1

Did you try your naive thing?

:-2,+8y is equivalent to :.-2,.+8y and should do what you want.

Note that if you don't specify a number, 1 is assumed, so: :,+y means .,.+1 y: yank current and next line.

On :help range it is not well explained. The relevant parts are here:

Line numbers may be specified with:     *:range* *E14* *{address}*
    [...]
    .       the current line              *:.*
    [...]
Each may be followed (several times) by '+' or '-' and an optional number.
This number is added or subtracted from the preceding line number.  If the
number is omitted, 1 is used.

What the doc does not tell is that if the + r - is not preceded with anything, . is assumed.