3 blocks away...and you haven't seen him for years? I live near several jws...haven't seen for years and we are inactive and have never debated/discussed WT beliefs.
The first one could have used the garage sale for an excuse to talk to you, a CYA measure with the other elders. Or money could run his life, you would know. Is he moving out of the congregation or out of state even?
The second evidently has a personal reason for not having contact with you perhaps to feel he has a reason to judge harshly. There are some jws that feel not attending the meetings (even not turning in any time) is a reason to shun inactive jws.
I knew a BOE that did business with one df'd brother and rented business space from another df'd brother. They expedited the reinstatement of the df'd brother they did business with, only 8 months and he was back in.