You should not reveal that you know the code and especially the content of neighbour’s safe. Your physical surroundings might be safe, but internet is not.
My physical surroundings are not safe, per se. My location doesn't determine my vulnerability. Anyone can attack anyone for any reason.
But I agree with your comment's sentiment. I considered it, but only after the edit period was up. I generally consider myself anonymous here, which actually isn't true.
I'm sure your neighbor trusts that you'll let their heirs/widow access to the coins should the need arise. Life is that much better when you can trust people like that.
Maybe I misread the thread, but I’d find it a bit surprising (though not unlikely) that they would trust their neighbors more than their widow and heirs.
Maybe they’re close friends that happen to be neighbors too, but then being neighbors would be a bit of a red herring.
I'm going to lay it out flat with you: Family relations are shit. There are tons of toes that should not be stepped on, there are "we're family" reasonings that might as well be under-the-table dealings you need to keep track of, if inheritances are on the line then who knows who has a knife ready to stab you in the back.
Friends and neighbours by contrast are platonic, they are relatively simpler relationships. In fact, because they are so simple, there is much more value in trust and honesty because anyone who is dishonorable will instantly lose that relationship. Family relations aren't like that because most relationships can't be easily deleted.
As the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Your closest relationships are your family.
This isn't to insult the professions of people who show up to your house in emergencies, but elderly folks are known to hide cash away and more than once have I heard of situations where first responders tossed a person's house looking for valuables.
Giving a trusted neighbor access and information about the contents is to protect those things for your heirs -- or to get you out of a jam.
Many people in upstate NY live in houses without doors that lock. (If somebody is going to travel a long way to your house and there are no witnesses they can just smash down the door anyway.)
On the other hand, despite being the home of anti-gun crusaders such as Mike Bloomberg, I’d reckon that half of the houses in upstate NY have a loaded gun stashed somewhere around the bed. I would bear that in mind if attempting any sort of home invasion.