The lighter contact is your better option but with any contact you need to be prepared that his reaction or what he says may not be what you want to find out.
You may want to stop short of suggesting, a meet up with just a contact about something fun that is open to response but not required, or more of a question. Something like 'there's this awesome sea creature exhibition at the opera house. Have you seen it? Its well worth it though the giant shark was a bit unnerving even if it was wearing a fez. If you haven't you should check it out'
Though the 'haven't heard from you in a while' is far less convoluted.
Also scheduling a phonecalls is a really good intermediate rather than a meet up. There's a lot less pressure, you can bith be more relaxed in your own environment and you don't have worry about how you look or are sitting etc.
Avoiders are hard to pin down because often they are avoiding themselves and their feelings as much as anything else. But sometimes its more habit than reluctance.
Both mid 30s, 2 young kids BD 7sep14 XW moved on long ago, now living with OM1 D paperwork in progress
