I was thinking about what you just suggested and now that my brain fart is over I actualy have a few thoughts of my own.

How about this:
Since we had a few problems untill now (with among others locations, dates and names) why dont we skip naming the place?
I know it may sound a bit borring but it would give us a bit more writing liberty,don't you agree?

I dont mind if we are in another planet but I thought that it was supposed to be earth we were talking about.
In any case, Im up for both, as long as we can post as we like I dont see why we cant be in a different planet.

I do like the Mad Max idea too, but only the idea of it, not so much to just copy it and use it as a "template", in lack of better word.

Personaly I like the forrest climate, but that is probably because of the picture I have in my mind of what the place should be like.
But a barren desert area would be nice too.
For some reason it make me think of Tattoine, in Star Wars, but I bet its just another brain fart comming on *g*
Anyways, I can work with either forrest or desert so I'll just thought that into the hat for voting.

As for currency, what would you say about having something that is easily transportable?
Slaves sound great, but if you want to be a lonely rider or something like that its going to get a bit tricky to transport all those slaves around.
I don't think it has to be gold, silver or anything like that, we can equally well invent something for our world.
Or does this sound too odd?

Anyway, these as they say, are my two cents.