You feel them a heck of lot less when your outside or in a car. Indoors- the thing that immediately alerts you a quake is starting -is the sounds of the structure and furnishings shaking. Lots of noise. The buildings and their foundation screech with the movement. Inside multi level buildings you can actually feel the building sway. (That's totally freaky!) Standing outside it feels almost like a wave (or loss of gravity) under your feet... ie why you don't feel them in car. (Can you tell I've experienced more than anyone would want to?) Years back, with one big quake I was driving to work ( L.A.) . I actually saw the Los Angeles Mountain range move. I think that was the most surreal thing I've ever seen in my life.
Oh- and last summer we experienced a quake with an epicenter in Mexico. The water in my pool rolled back and forth and lapped waves over the deck! That was totally cooool!!!
