Negotiating pay when I have been out of work after 14 years as a payroll clerk

A recruiter asked for my salary expectations on a first call as I look for work as a payroll clerk. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I looked up ranges in San Diego and they vary a lot. What did you say?

I gave a range based on local postings and said I was flexible depending on the whole package. They did not push back.