[malandrew]

Unless you've got plenty of money and are funemployed and wealthy enough to turn down offers and move on if they are unsatisfactory.

You're only in a bad bargaining position if you need a job to pay your bills.

The key in the discussion with the recruiter is not to say that you are unemployed but to say that you're taking time for yourself and looking for opportunities that meet your professional desires and baseline financial expectations. The key is to make it clear that you have no financial needs, just financial expectations.

Be prepared to use the Noel Smith-Wenkle salary negotiation method.