You summed up my feelings/thoughts very very well (although, I would be interested in moving back eventually).
It’s funny to hear people who did not grow up with earthquakes talk about them. I went through several of the big ones, including the Whittier when I was young and the Northridge. They are over in 30 seconds or less (often times WAY less), and most people out there are like me… they’ve lived with them all their lives, so it doesn’t phase you all that much. Buildings have been upgrading to ensure minimal damage, people have the big pieces of furniture bolted to the walls (people laughed at me out here when I tried to do that to a big dvd rack I bought… but that’s the norm to me), etc. Little ones in the 4 barely even stir up conversation.