[salomon812]

> I'd expect a lot more differences, bordering on unintelligible, before I call it a dialect.

I'm not sure if I could help you with examples since it's my father's tongue, not mind. But I assure you, he found it very difficult to communicate with other Spanish speakers in California. However, he did have a much easier time talking with someone that grew up in the Philippines!

I do remember very distinctly that my dad did not know the word "dormir" or "to sleep" and the word he had started with "ad" but I don't remember it.

> but for now, it just sounds like some peculiar word choices.

Remember, the area is changing. The Spanish that's being spoken in New Mexico is altering to match the wider world. If you want older dialect, you really do have to find people in their 50's or older.

[maxbond]

> However, he did have a much easier time talking with someone that grew up in the Philippines!

Who presumably spoke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavacano (a dialect with a similar origin, though of course different geography & local influences)

Or maybe a dialect I've never heard of even, the Philippines is an incredibly linguistically diverse area. A woman I know from the Philippines grew up speaking 5 languages.