See, it goes like this: there's a small shaker, just a vibration for a bit, then it stops. The lights stop swinging and everything is stable once again.

Except for our imaginations. We say to each other or to ourselves, "Did you feel it? Was it just a little loner quake or was that the precursor to a Big One?" We fret a bit and look around nervously for shelter.

Then we shrug and turn away, muttering to ourselves, "Well, there's nothing I can do about it one way or the other, so I guess I'll keep on keeping on."

The cat is unconcerned, and that's a comfort.