I live in Southwest New Mexico ... a 1.5 hour drive (Southwest) to the Arizona border. El Paso is my (major) airport ... a 2.5 hour drive (Southeast via Las Cruces). If you fly into the El Paso airport (ELP), you're well over half way (East to West) through the state. ELP is certainly the "gateway" to the Southern half of the state.
You don't want to tackle the entire state in one trip. By all means, plan a trip based out of Albuquerque (Sante Fe, Taos, ...). But plan a second trip out of El Paso. I get the sense you'd enjoy the three-million acre Gila National Forest.
Good Food = Hatch, New Mexico Chile ... bring the Mylanta / Pepto Bismol if hot food isn't your thing. If you're into heat, you'll be in heaven.
New Mexico is few decades behind the curve when it comes to craft beer, but the Bosque, Santa Fe, La Cumbre, Tractor, Red Door, Marble brewing companies will get your started.
New Mexico is almost exclusively a second amendment sanctuary state.