Mary-

Yeah your husband has good analogy. Another way to look at it is imagine taking a piece of glass and hitting it hard but not hard enough w/ hammer to shatter, but hard enough to send a gazillion different cracks in random directions. That is what some have said the fault system under the city MAY look like.

I have to say though, out where you live, that TRULEY is the greatest and biggest risk to southern California. I really believe that area is so over due for an 8 on the San Andreas, a 7 on the San Jacinto and a maybe a 6 or 2 on adjoining faults in the area. If I had to make a definate long term forecast I would say in the next 5 years for SURE the bigger ones are going to originate in your neck of the woods.