CNN —Sometimes it only takes one visit to convince visitors to pack up their belongings and move to Bonaire permanently. “I fell in love with Bonaire,” Davis, now in her mid-60s, says of her initial visit. Bonaire, pronounced “Bone-air,” is located just off the coast of Venezuela, and it’s one of the three ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Bonaire is known for its scuba diving, but unless you’re Dutch or an avid diver, you probably haven’t given the island much thought. johnandersonphoto/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesThen, in 1999, the Bonaire government purchased Klein Bonaire (an uninhabited island a half mile offshore) from the private sector for $4.6 million with the agreement that it would remain a naturally preserved island.

---

Persons: Susan Davis, Davis, “, ” Davis, ” She’s, ”, Rolando Marin, that’s, Greg Balfour Evans, Boy ” Herrera, Annette Emerenciana, Harry Schoffelen, who’s, Kiki Multem Organizations: CNN, Bonaire, Statistics Netherlands, CBS, Tourism Corporation, ABC, Klein Bonaire, US State Department, “ Bonaire, “ Locations: Bonaire, Chicago, Dutch, Netherlands, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Venezuela, Aruba, Curaçao, Kingdom of, Miami, Kralendijk, Blue Bonaire, Washington, johnandersonphoto, Development, “, United States, Europe