I spent four great years of my youth stationed at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque. Fished the San Juan many times as well as many other lakes and rivers north of I-40. I even called myself mule deer hunting a couple of times coming close to taking buck once.
I hunted and visited down south last year and fell in love with the region all over again.
I feel your pain in losing your hunting partners. I have 3 boys, all too soon to fly the coop. I can only hope that they will still want to hunt with dear old dad!