"A mix of launch alternatives like these—existing ELVs, new expendable and reusable vehicles, and even very-low-cost cargo launchers—don’t offer quite the integrated solution as a heavy-lift vehicle that could send crews to the Moon in one or two launches. Instead, the various components of such a mission would be launched on different vehicles: major spacecraft components on ELVs, crews on ELVs or perhaps small RLVs, and consumables on cargo launchers. This would require infrastructure in space to put all the components together: propellant depots and staging areas, in Earth orbit and perhaps lunar orbit or the Earth-Moon L1 point, as well as tugs to maneuver and integrate spacecraft and payloads.

This alternative sounds far more complex, and in many respects it is. However, this same infrastructure can be used for far more than just human missions to the Moon: it can serve as the basis for journeys to Mars and other destinations in the solar system. The same infrastructure could conceivably support commercial and other government applications. This architecture could end up being far more affordable and sustainable in the long run than any system that relies on a new heavy-lift launch vehicle."
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/146/2

It's an interesting article. It's basically what I have advocated.
We are going to the Moon and beyond.
Are you ready to be a spacefaring species?
:)