“One of life’s greatest risks is never daring to risk.”

-- Oprah Winfrey

When thinking of the Verde Communities, one normally ponders such stereotypes as easy-going retired folks, plenty of golf carts running around and 9 o’clock bedtime.

Beneath the surface, however, lurk all sorts of adventures and escapades and risk takers among those residing in Rio Verde or Tonto Verde.

These adventure seekers may be former captains of industry, entrepreneurs or simply those who followed the beat of a different drummer.

While Christie and Rick Gorsline do enjoy their rounds of golf these days, they don’t seem too content lounging on their couches.

The tennis and pickleball courts beckon as well.

Earlier this year the Gorslines released a book, “Two Butts on a Bike,” detailing a four-month adventure they took in the year 2000.

The book details a unique European trip, one made on a motorcycle – covering 18 countries and 12,074 miles in four months.

In the book’s front notes Christie writes, “Part of the magic for me was that our plan defied society’s expectations.

“I’d waited to have babies until after marriage and obligingly joined the Junior League.

“But somewhere deep inside, a rebel must have been lurking and she waited until middle age to act out. A motorcycle ride across Europe was the perfect venue.

“The problem was that once she emerged there was no putting her back.”

Before we start in Europe, however, the adventure really begins in the Pacific Ocean…

Can you say Nanook?

“I was 45 years old when we sold our home, quit work and headed across the ocean to sail around the world,” Christine says. “We weren’t wealthy, nor were we experienced sailors.”

With their two daughters in college, the Gorslines looked at their lives and decided they were ready for a new challenge.

They considered flying around the world. A “recreational vehicle” was definitely not adventuresome enough.

So they took sailing and navigation classes, got scuba licenses and bought a 37-foot sailboat.

Although the original goal was to sail around the world, for a bunch of reasons they never made it past the west coast of Mexico.

Still, they spent six years calling the Nanook home. They swam with dolphins, watched a whale being born and saw the “green flash” at sunset.

“We lived without refrigeration or pressure water and survived a hurricane,” Christine says.

“Going sailing has a mystical feeling about it. A lot people just pick up and go.”

Rick said they realized right away that sailing around the world was not going to be easy. They spent four years getting ready.

“But in the end the boat engine was the major problem,” he says.

She adds, “It was a difficult and uncomfortable way to live. It’s a big responsibility.”

Nonetheless, the creative sparks were kindled even more.

A former English teacher who dabbled in writing for a newspaper and magazines, Christie documented the sailing adventure in her first book published in 2010 by Inkwater Press, “Empty Nest to Life Vest: Plotting a New Course.”

“It was a wonderfully rewarding experience to write a book,” she adds.

“The dream we invented was bold but not impossible. Living on a 37-foot sailboat for six years changed me. With every nautical mile I pried loose the knots of conformity.”

While the sailing adventure was definitely an adventure, the Gorslines still wanted to see more of the world before they aged too much.

Rick turned 50 while on the water, and the wanderlust still remained.

“So before we returned to a life of jobs and mortgage payments, we sold the boat and bought a BMW motorcycle,” Christie says.

“We had the confidence we could get new stuff and new jobs anytime. So it was worth it to us to take another adventure.

“This stage of our life was fun. It gives us a better feeling of traveling now.”

Rick had owned motorcycles before, so it was a natural transition to think of seeing Europe on a bike.

They strapped camping gear on top of the saddle bags and shipped the bike (a BMW R1100GS) to London. It was stored in cargo on the same plane they took.

“Wasn’t a good omen when a casket came out of cargo along with our bike,” Christie recalls.

Not deterred, however, the Gorslines donned helmets and leather.

They rode through England and Wales, took a ferry over to Ireland. The Gorslines traveled in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain and more.

They saw a lot of history and met a lot of locals.

They camped as much as they could – availing themselves of a room or a B&B when they could. Or when they needed showers.

The first two months featured plenty of rain, but the adventure continued nonetheless.

They both journaled extensively on the excursion, providing plenty of fodder for “Two Butts on a Bike.”

The book features different fonts for the two writers as they provide their own perspectives on the people, the places, the food, the mishaps, the fun.

They even managed to stay married after the once-in-a-lifetime trip.

“We deliberately tried to go places where the Americans weren’t,” Rick says.

“The Europeans were good at recommending places and sights. We got a lot of ideas from the locals.”

For example, they didn’t go to Paris or Venice.

They awarded “five stars” to the following – Irish pubs, Ribe (a city in Denmark), night watchman tour, Amsterdam spirit and canals, Edam coffee, Austrian greeting “Gruss Gott” and Czech prices and architecture.

“Just figuring out where to go on a daily basis was truly a treasure,” Christine says.

As for riding all over the place on a motorcycle?

“I feel less safe in the United States than I did in Europe,” Christine says. “Their drivers are much more careful. They drive fast, but they’re good.

“It’s definitely a great way to see Europe and have an adventure.

“We’re still finding ways to get adventures these days, but we just don’t want to sleep on the ground anymore.”

They had to re-enter a conventional lifestyle upon their return to the States – jobs, keys, having a front door – but retirement beckoned soon enough and now they share time between Rio Verde and Oregon.

“Every day we pinch ourselves,” Rick says. “We didn’t know a soul when we moved here two years ago.

“But we’re so happy to live here.”

And, of course, it’s always a good place to serve as a launching pad for yet another adventure…