Status Updates From The Siberians by Farley Mow...

At first I was not convinced that the simplicity of the dachas was so much intentional as it was a product of a not-so-affluent society.
Once (...) I made a rather snide suggestion to this point, to which he replied: 'You think I am a poor man? (...) If I want, I have electric lights and television here. But why I want to do that, eh? Why anybody want to take city with him on his back when he go live with nature?

This book was definitely an influence on LeGuin and The Left Hand of Darkness.

I want some Kamchatka crab

A joy to reread!

Making me hungry for Kamchatka crab though.