ABSTRACT
Relations of reciprocity and care are simultaneously intimate and personal, and shaped by social and political contexts. Expectations and expressions of reciprocity reflect the social and material conditions one is exposed to throughout the lifecourse. Reciprocity as returning gifts of time, commodities and service can be regarded as a social force which underpins forms of economic and social exchange in society. This chapter focuses on three studies related to the social geographies of everyday life, and the ways in which material and individual well-being, consumption, and place intersect. Study 1 explored the relationships between consumption, ageing, and place. Study 2 was a large qualitative research project focused on developing a measure of living standards for older New Zealanders. Study 3 explored how older New Zealanders engaged and interacted with a range of organisations. Across all three studies, participants framed a responsibility to contribute to the lives of others, both proximate and distant, as part of a social and moral contract.
