I blinked when I got to this remark: "<i>...my prior seven figure personal net worth had been reduced to $30,000, which I had stocked away</i> in cash <i>in a safety deposit box.</i>"<p>To me the idea of having $3k in cash is unthinkable (retail businesses and other circumstances where there is an <i>operational</i> need for cash excepted, of course), never mind $30k in cash. It brings to mind drug dealers and money laundering.<p>Is having such large amounts of cash more commonplace in the US, or were other readers similarly startled?