BEECH B36 PLT HAS AN AIRBORNE CONFLICT.

Narrative

I DEPARTED VFR FROM SJC ENRTE TRK. RADIO CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED WITH VARIOUS NORCAL SECTORS. NEAR LIVERMORE I WAS ASKED MY DESIRED ALT. I SAID 9500 FT; AND WAS TOLD VFR CLB APPROVED. (NOTE #1) I CLBED TO 9500 FT AND DECIDED I WOULD PREFER 11500 FT. I WAS AT 9700 FT AND THE CTLR ASKED IF I WAS GOING TO STAY AT 9500 FT. (NOTE #2) I SAID I WOULD PREFER 11500 FT. I THEN HEARD THE CTLR CONTACT A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE ADVISING HIM TO CLB. SEEING THAT AIRLINE I LEVELED OFF AND DSNDED BACK TO 9500 FT. (NOTE #3) THE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE RPTED A 300 FT SEPARATION; AND HAD ME ON TCAS. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. NOTE #1) I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS; CLASS E AIRSPACE AND WAS TOLD VFR CLB APPROVED. I DO NOT KNOW IF I WAS OBLIGATED TO STOP AT MY PREVIOUSLY STATED DESIRED ALT OF 9500 FT. NOTE #2) A STATEMENT TO MAINTAIN AT OR BELOW 9500 FT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE THAN A QUESTION OF AM I GOING TO STAY AT 9500 FT. NOTE #3) I AM SURPRISED I WAS EVEN GIVEN A VFR CLB APPROVED TO AT LEAST 9500 FT GIVEN THE PATH OF THE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE.