I'm just catching up on these great responses. Extremely helpful. Just some quick comments:
Here in CA we can, and many of us do (at least for now) purchase internet/mail-order ammo. No problem.
Re Kel-Tec, there is something called a CA Roster of Legal handguns - which lists every make/model of guns allowed to be sold here. Although there are some techniques that enable access to other make/models, this is pretty often 'THE LIST'. And that list doesn't contain even one Kel-Tec handgun on it. Not a one.
The idea of the police/used G19 is a great one. To me, the leading contender (I'm still working through the feedback). I've never shot a Glock nor has my wife (she is right-handed) so it would take some training but that's usually fun. I also like the idea of a G26 but they are unlikely to be found in police returns at lowered prices. Either way, despite the fact that I'm an H&K fanboy, I have huge respect for the simplicity, quality and reliability of all Glocks.
The FiveSeven is interesting but a non-starter. It both violates my 9x19 preference, but it also makes a lot less sense when, here in CA, it is limited to 10 rounds. A gun that is designed and optimized around shooting from a large magazine is not as clever when it is strangled.
I'm not sure that the .22LR, even with a brick of ammo, is a great idea. My hope (presuming that the car does not become an 'INCH' (clever acronym there) vehicle) is that I'd take 1-3 days to head home. I don't need the gun for food but only for SD. Seems like a .22LR is not the best choice there.
The instructors belt is a good idea as well. I already have one (or equivalent) in each pack. I must have been thinking that I'd be heading toward this phase of the GEBP (get home back pack?) project. I also did it because there is one K-Bar-class non-folding knife in each pack with the option of a belt mount.
The comment about keeping a fully loaded gun 'ready to go' in the trunk lockbox is a likely non-starter. Although the laws can be interpreted differently, in general the read on the law is that the gun has to be locked in its case, out of direct reach from the drivers seat, and the ammo stored separately. It may be that they can be stored together if out of reach, but I am not sure, and have no interest in testing the ire of a LEO when things are likely to be tense anyway.
I just can't get behind the HiPoint recommendation. From everything I read, and just understanding their design, the handgun is not a very dependable or accurate design and it's quite heavy. It is inexpensive though...
Regarding the impact of an earthquake on people's behavior, most of CA is no different than other community's around the U.S. That is, people come out of the woodwork to help one another. I've been through a good sized quake here in 1989 (though the next big one is likely to be much stronger) and nearly everyone was looking to help everyone else. Myself included. Please don't think that CA is any different or lesser, or that I have a rare and evil view of civilization. But every community has it's odd citizen, looting can become a problem if the situation becomes dire, and I don't want to depend only on good will to aid my way home.
Thanks again everyone, and please keep the suggestion coming.
B