I’ve been in a number of quakes and have lost count, a drought, several floods, a bush fire and a blizzard and a nine year cicada invasion of epic proportions. Can’t say the thought of moving occurred to me at any point before during or after due to something nature was tossing about. Twice when moving 100 year unpredicted events hit just after I relocated. Typical huh.

But how many cities on earth are parked at the base of volcanoes or on fault lines or over thin ground so that steam holes appear randomly. Los Angeles mud slides look awful and their bush fires cause regular damage and death as well as the area being well known for their tremors.

Humans continue to build and rebuild with fingers crossed. We’re just quirky like that.

Fester I met a dude who lived in a shipping container in Ch-Ch – err it was on a hill though.

Ch-Ch isn’t little, they’ll rebuild and since they didn’t have many buildings over a few stories high I am hoping when they rebuild they keep them even lower as it makes for a prettier city anyway. That church steeple (Catherdral in Ch-Ch Square) fell off a couple of hundred years ago when a previous quake hit and had to be rebuilt… don’t quote me my memory is vague on that one.

Human nature drives us to stay and to rebuild.
For some it is fearless loyalty to an area or city.
Others think it will never happen to me.
And some gamble, not again in my lifetime.
Cheaper land because of such events drive yet another group.
It has been bad,will get worse, looks like 300 plus dead is the final count.
And great to see people from all over the world helping.

Belly:

We lived in Los Angeles for close to ten years and experienced a number of constant earthquakes up to 6.7 on the scale. It wasn't a pleasant environment to live in and with our children at toddler age we decided to return to a safer Australia. People will continue to take risks because of family and their commitment to their homes and business no matter what the future outcome may be. Predictions for the Southern California coast to sink into the ocean are being broadcast frequently - and yet people continue to ignore them. So too with volcanoes, cyclones, floods, people always assume that it won't happen to them.

Very true Lexi I felt the Newcastle earth quake at work 128klm away,never thought of it as an earth quake until later.
We will be talking about rebuilding Christchurch for years to come.
And each new death toll will bring pain.
Hope we are all giving as much as we can.

Belly:

Indeed we are giving as much as we can. Australians always do and that's something we can all be proud of. One of my brothers has flown over there to help. He's part of a team and they'll stay for as long as they're needed. By the way - I know this is off subject but did you see Question Time the other day and the attack on the PM by the leader of the Opposition? He was bordering on hysteria. It was embarrassing. I wonder how long it will take for the Party to realize that the man should be replaced, and soon? He's definitely lost the plot.

My young houseguest returns to Ch-Ch tonight, I tried to talk her out of it and saw no point in going near the city right now but her mum is there alone so off she goes.

I’m still not donating, it wont make me feel I have helped unless I know how the money is handled and if they even need any. I paid many years of house insurance while there and so I guess I already gave to the Earthquake and War Damages Commission?

Did get me wondering about how safe Aussie is, besides large weather events. I know systems in place don't treat its people very nicely or fairly. There is a lot of dangerous critters and everyone gets skin cancer here same as NZ.

So say you are a Cantabrian and you have had enough and want to move and live somewhere safe (physically +). Any suggestions?