I've studied this area on an amateur level if you will and have found what Chris stated above. In addition though I wanted to add that it is thought that this area has been the source of some of California's biggest quakes. There was a huge quake off shore of Santa Barbara in 1812 that spawned a huge tsunami. In the early 1900s there were several 6 magnitude quakes as well as the ones you speak of Penny. Interestingly enough, as Chris pointed out, its been very quiet the past few decades. There are 3 areas of California that supposedly don't get earthquakes (if you ask a local who is older adult and lived there all their life w/out feeling one) Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Barbara. Sacramento maybe some truth to it, San Diego POSSIBLY as well although there is some risk, but I've have friends up there and family members who have gone through UCSB last 30 years speaking of how beautiful it is and quake free as well. Kinda gives shivers to think that this 30 year of seismic lull in the area is more of an anomoly that something of the norm and how the average Joe who doesn't follow it like us really thinks its more or less quake free there.